Podcasts about Amen

In a season of Stillness—but I'm still here. ❤️‍

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. — 1 John 4:9-10 James and Tyesha stand at the front of the church sanctuary with their daughters, Brooklyn and Layla, who gaze up at their baby brother, Hakeem, cradled in their father's arms. Brooklyn stands on tiptoe to peer into the water of the baptismal font; then her eyes look up to meet mine. She is captivated by the mystery, the ritual, and the weight of the promises on this day. I address the congregation: “If any family would like to join Brooklyn, Layla, James, and Tyesha as we baptize baby Hakeem, you are invited to come forward.” Expecting a few grandparents to join us, I am stunned when the whole congregation steps forward, surrounding them in love. Together we listen to God's promises. James and Tyesha make vows, and the congregation promises to stand with Hakeem in Christian community. Then come the words of baptism: “For you, Hakeem, Jesus Christ came into the world; for you, he died; for you, he conquered death. . . . We love because God first loved us. Hakeem Elzy, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Hakeem, a child of God, is part of God's family. And because of Jesus you have the right to be part of God's family too (John 1:12-13). Loving God, thank you for making us part of your family through Jesus Christ. Help us to share your gracious love with others faithfully each day. Amen.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." — John 10:10 Identity theft is a growing threat today. Scammers try to steal our personal information and gain access to our financial accounts. In the spirit world, another identity thief lurks as well. The master deceiver, Satan, tries to rob believers of the assurance of their new identity in Christ. He tries to sow seeds of doubt, despair, confusion, and insecurity within us. If he cannot possess us, the devil wants at least to wear us down and make us feel defeated, limiting our service for God and his kingdom. But we are not alone. We have the presence of God in our hearts, and we have God's Word to assure us and strengthen us with the truth. Jesus promises that we will have life to the full, and no one can snatch us out of his hand (John 10:28-30). The Lord and his Word remain our best protection, affirming that we are not defined by past successes or failures but only by our union with Christ. Through faith, we receive his righteousness and become the children of God. We are forgiven, cleansed, and commissioned to be his representatives in the world. As God's handiwork, we are created to do good works that honor the Lord and bring blessing to others. As God reassures us through his Spirit and his Word, we are redeemed, beloved, and empowered to live out his purposes with confidence and grace each day. Lord, help us to see that our worth is defined by you, not by the opinions of others. By your Word and Spirit, assure us always that in you we have full life forever. Amen.

In jener Zeit sprach Jesus zu seinen Jüngern: Amen, amen, ich sage euch: Was ihr den Vater in meinem Namen bitten werdet, das wird er euch geben. Bis jetzt habt ihr noch um nichts in meinem Namen gebeten. Bittet und ihr werdet empfangen, damit eure Freude vollkommen ist. Dies habe ich in Bildreden zu euch gesagt; es kommt die Stunde, in der ich nicht mehr in Bildreden zu euch sprechen, sondern euch offen vom Vater künden werde. An jenem Tag werdet ihr in meinem Namen bitten und ich sage euch nicht, dass ich den Vater für euch bitten werde; denn der Vater selbst liebt euch, weil ihr mich geliebt und weil ihr geglaubt habt, dass ich von Gott ausgegangen bin. Ich bin vom Vater ausgegangen und in die Welt gekommen; ich verlasse die Welt wieder und gehe zum Vater.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to another episode of the Daily Radio Bible! Join your host, Hunter, as we journey through Day 151 of our trip through the Bible. Today, we continue in Proverbs, chapters 13 through 15, where wisdom for daily living abounds—from guarding our words and embracing discipline, to the value of humility and the power of a gentle answer. Then, we turn to Romans 11, as Paul dives into the mystery of God's grace—free and undeserved—for both Jews and Gentiles alike. Through readings, reflection, and heartfelt prayer, this episode invites us to rest in God's boundless mercy, trust in His wisdom, and remember one thing above all: you are loved. Settle in for encouragement, reflection, and the daily strength found in God's word. TODAY'S DEVOTION: It is what it is—and what it is, is grace. As Paul writes in Romans 11, God's grace is free and undeserved, offered to Jew and Gentile alike. In verse 6, he puts it plainly: “And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not through their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is, free and undeserved.” We keep returning to this good news: there is enough love to go around for everyone, enough grace for all people, from every tribe and nation. God's mercy is deeper, wider, and higher than we can begin to comprehend. Paul exclaims, “Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge. How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways.” We may not be able to make sense of it all, but the mystery is this: God's mercy is poured out on all—despite our failures and disobedience, despite whether we think we are deserving. His grace is not dependent on our goodness, but rooted deeply in his own loving character. So what are we to do with this wondrous, boundless mercy? Paul's invitation, and the call of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, is to trust in what God has done for us. It's about him—about his saving work, his unending love. We are invited to live in him, to let his grace transform us, to move forward each day in the light of his boundless love and mercy. That is my prayer for myself: to be shaped by this grace, to remember that it is not my effort, but God's love that sustains me. It's my prayer for my family, for my wife and children. And it's my prayer for you today—may you rest secure in the truth that you are loved. God's mercy is enough, God's grace is sufficient, and in him we find our hope. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Loving god, you have knit us together in the body of Christ from every nation and tongue. Make us a vessel of your peace today. Make us a vessel of your peace today. Where hatred stirs, let us bear your love. Where wounds run deep, let us be agents of pardon. Where fear grips hearts, may we speak faith. Where sorrow hangs heavy, may we carry joy. Teach us to listen more than we speak, to understand before we are understood, to love. For in surrender, we find abundance. In mercy, we discover grace. And in dying, we rise into your life. In the name of Jesus. Amen. And now as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Today's Topics: Gospel - John 16:20-23 - Jesus said to His disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question Me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you.” 1, 2, 3, 4) Father William Wagner, ORC, joins Terry  to discuss the Book of Tobit and the role of  Angels in the  life of the Covenant, in our relationship with God

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. — Romans 8:37 In times of uncertainty and seeming chaos, it's natural for people to seek out a strong leader to restore order and bring resolution. It may be a military hero, a political figure, or a charismatic leader. We often look to our own resources to bring stability to a volatile situation, don't we? Yet when we discover the ultimate victor and King, Jesus Christ, we learn, as he states in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Through his triumph over sin and death, Jesus declares victory over every force that opposes God and his plan of restoration. His victory brings hope to believers, promising peace and triumph despite the trials and struggles they may endure. In light of this, Paul boldly proclaims in Romans 8, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” The victory Jesus won through his death and resurrection is now shared with his followers. Our identity in Christ transforms us into victors who have new, full life forever in Christ. When we align with Jesus, no other power or influence can defeat us or keep us down. Victorious King, thank you for securing the ultimate triumph for us. Guide us to walk with confidence today, knowing that nothing we encounter can ultimately hold back your good purposes for our lives. Amen.

In jener Zeit sprach Jesus zu seinen Jüngern: Amen, amen, ich sage euch: Ihr werdet weinen und klagen, aber die Welt wird sich freuen; ihr werdet traurig sein, aber eure Trauer wird sich in Freude verwandeln. Wenn die Frau gebären soll, hat sie Trauer, weil ihre Stunde gekommen ist, aber wenn sie das Kind geboren hat, denkt sie nicht mehr an ihre Not über der Freude, dass ein Mensch zur Welt gekommen ist. So habt auch ihr jetzt Trauer, aber ich werde euch wiedersehen; dann wird euer Herz sich freuen und niemand nimmt euch eure Freude. An jenem Tag werdet ihr mich nichts mehr fragen. 

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter guides us through day 150 of our journey, exploring Proverbs chapters 10-12 and Romans chapter 10. Together, we reflect on wisdom, integrity, generosity, and Paul's reminder that God's arms are always open to us. Hunter encourages us to embrace the love God freely offers, live a life rooted in gratitude, and share that thankfulness with those around us. Join us for a time of scripture, prayer, and reflection as we discover how God's love transforms our daily lives. Let's dive in! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Open Arms I love how Paul ends his chapter where he says, regarding Israel, All day long, I have opened my arms to them. Open arms. That's the picture Paul wants to leave us with. God's arms are open, always embracing, always drawing us in, always pursuing us, all day long. And, of course, it is entirely right for us to make the application not only for Israel, but for us, for the world. God's arms are open all day long. And, of course, that is revealed in its most perfect expression in the life of our Lord Jesus—his arms spread wide open on that cross, embracing the world. For God so loved the world that he gave himself. My prayer today is that I will live each and every day of my life fully aware, fully convinced, fully embracing the God who has embraced me. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Almighty and ever loving god, you have brought us to the light of a new morning. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your holy spirit that we may walk this day in peace. Guard our steps from temptation. Shield us from the weight of fear and shame, and lead us deeper into the joy of your presence through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Oh Christ, light of the nations, shine in every place where shadows dwell. Call the scattered home. Heal the wounds of division, and gather all people into the communion of your grace. May the knowledge of the lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Amen. And now, lord, make my hands ready for mercy. Make my eyes quick to see the hurting, my ears open to the cry of the lonely, and my feet swift to bring good news. Let me seek to bless, not to be noticed, to serve, not to be praised, to forgive, not to hold back. For in your way is life, in your mercy is healing, and in your love is the peace this world cannot give. Amen. And now as our lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. . . .” — Mark 4:26 When Jesus came to live and teach among us, it was common for a farmer to sling a bag of seed over his shoulder and to walk through his fields scattering handfuls of seed onto the freshly tilled soil. As Jesus explains the process of the seed sprouting and growing in this parable, we can see that the seed symbolizes the good news of salvation, bringing the potential for new life. As Paul explains similarly in Romans 1:16, “The gospel . . . is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel is a potent force, capable of transforming lives and entire communities. Like seed hidden beneath the surface, its message takes root out-of-sight, deep within the human heart. There it grows and matures, eventually yielding a harvest of righteousness. Rather than hoarding the seed of the gospel, we are called to scatter it generously as we journey through life. We scatter seed by supporting missionaries or mission organizations, volunteering for a community service project, inviting a neighbor over for coffee, and more. We sow gospel seed when we nurture spiritual conversations with our family members and friends. We sow seed with colleagues at work. When we spread the good news of Jesus, we participate in the process of bringing forth spiritual fruit. Lord, you have shared the good news with us and have given us new life. Help us to share it with others, knowing you will make it grow and bring forth a bountiful harvest, to your glory. Amen.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 7-9; Romans 9 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to another episode of the Daily Radio Bible! Today, on Day 149 of our journey, Hunter invites us to walk together through the wisdom-filled chapters of Proverbs 7–9 and explore the deep truths of Romans 9. As we turn the pages, we'll hear wisdom's call, reflect on the contrast between choosing God's ways versus straying paths, and wrestle with the profound mysteries of God's mercy and grace. Through prayer and heartfelt reflection, Hunter reminds us that the heart of wisdom is trusting in God and embracing our identity as beloved children of a good and noble Father. Whether summer sunshine is lighting up your world or you're seeking a ray of hope, settle in and let the scriptures direct your heart today—because here, you are always loved, full stop. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Wisdom has a secret, and the secret is to trust in God. We are reminded today not to exclude God and simply rely on our own understanding, but to lean on Him. The writer of Proverbs addresses us as children, calling us into a relationship with God that is like family. The wisdom of God isn't merely a set of rules or memorized dictates—it's something we experience within a loving relationship with the Creator. He invites us to know Him, to be known by Him, to enter into conversation, to walk as His sons and daughters. Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced. There's much I don't understand—about God, about my own heart—but the lesson that comes again and again is that I can trust Him. His purposes toward us are always good, and He's always working for our best. Sometimes, pride and self-sufficiency creep in, and I start to think and act more like an employee than a beloved child. Entitlement, ingratitude, distance enter my heart. But the voice of Wisdom calls even louder to us in those moments, like a good Father, shepherding us away from destruction, drawing us toward life. That's why I come to the Word each day, together with you—not to pile up information, but to let the Father draw me into His life and His joy. To accept the invitation of Wisdom is to see ourselves as God sees us, His children, drawn into relationship by grace alone, not by anything we've done. And this love, this grace, it's not limited or exclusive—it's God's welcome extended to every human being, right where we are. When we trust in Him, we discover grace. We are enfolded in His kindness, made alive and joyful in His love. And so I pray this for my own soul, for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son—and I pray it for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Gracious and everlasting God, you have brought us through the shadow of night into the promise of a new day. You go before us with your mercy, sustain us by your grace, and keep us from wandering paths of fear or pride. Let every word we speak and every step we take be formed by the goodness of Christ. Oh, Lord, gather your people far and near. May every tribe and tongue come to know your peace. Let justice roll like a river and healing flow where there has been division. Pour out your spirit upon all flesh, and bring us closer to the day when your kingdom comes in fullness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And now as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

This MTM Minute is powered by Move to Millions Live 2025 After Party The MTM Minute is a quick dose of inspiration with a powerful affirmation based on our weekly full-length episode.    You are ENOUGH to transform lives! In this week's full-length episode of the Move to Millions Podcast, Play Big Series Part Four: Moses, discusses how to embrace bold leadership using the powerful example of Moses. Learn how to step into your calling and confront your business challenges with courage, trust, and action. Discover how to stop shrinking back, stop making excuses, and trust that what you have in your hand is enough to achieve seven-figure success. Dr. Darnyelle shares the powerful lessons from Moses' story that teach us how to lead with confidence, leverage obedience for growth, and use what's already in your hand to create lasting business success. This episode is for entrepreneurs ready to rise and lead with boldness, just like Moses did. If you're ready to play big and elevate your business, this episode will show you how to face fear and take action toward the abundance and success you deserve. This episode will inspire you to stop shrinking back and step into the leader you're called to be. Learn how to leverage what's already in your hands, and take bold action toward seven-figure success. If you're ready to stop making excuses and start leading with courage, this episode is for you. This week's 7 Figure CEO Affirmation is "I was called to lead with boldness, just like Moses. I trust that the challenges I face are not obstacles, but opportunities to step into my destiny. I am equipped with everything I need to succeed, and I embrace the leadership role that God has given me. I refuse to let fear or self-doubt hold me back—I move forward with courage and confidence, knowing that my leadership is what will transform lives and elevate my business to seven figures. I trust in the process and know that I am destined for greatness."   Here are three actionable tips to anchor in this week's affirmation Embrace Leadership with Boldness: Identify one area of your business where you've been playing small. Today, take bold action—whether it's making a tough decision or taking the first step toward a new opportunity. Boldness leads to breakthroughs. Leverage What's Already in Your Hand: Like Moses with his staff, you already have the tools you need to succeed. Focus on what's available to you right now—your skills, experiences, and resources—and use them to propel your business forward. Stop waiting for the "perfect" moment. Stop the Excuses: Moses was reluctant to step into his calling because of self-doubt. Identify the excuses that have been holding you back from playing bigger and challenge them. Move from excuses to execution—take one concrete action that will move you closer to your seven-figure goal. Affirm with me: "I was called to lead with boldness, just like Moses. I trust that the challenges I face are not obstacles, but opportunities to step into my destiny. I am equipped with everything I need to succeed, and I embrace the leadership role that God has given me. I refuse to let fear or self-doubt hold me back—I move forward with courage and confidence, knowing that my leadership is what will transform lives and elevate my business to seven figures. I trust in the process and know that I am destined for greatness." And this week's journal prompts are: "The leadership challenge I am facing right now is... "One area where I've been holding myself back in my business is... "To embrace the leadership that's been placed on my life, I will move with courage by..." And Your Prayer Of The Week: Heavenly Father, We thank You for the courage and strength You've given us to step into leadership, just as You called Moses to lead with boldness. We ask that You guide us to trust the process, especially when the path seems unclear. Help us to see challenges not as setbacks but as opportunities for growth, leadership, and influence. May we not shrink back in fear, but rise to the occasion with confidence, knowing that You have equipped us for this season. Lead us toward seven-figure success with grace, integrity, and boldness, just as Moses led his people to their freedom. Empower us to take action today, trusting that our obedience will lead to greatness. In Your name, I pray. And So it Is. Amen.   Ready to shift the statistics in your favor by joining the top 4.2% of all business generating 7 figures or more a year?  If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur who has crossed six figures and you're ready to play bigger, we are on a mission to help you make the move to millions.  Visit movetomillions.com to learn all the ways we can equip you to make, move and leave millions.   Want more of Darnyelle? Personal Brand Website: https://www.drdarnyelle.com Company Website: https://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com Move to Millions Website: https://www.movetomillions.com   Social Media Links: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/darnyellejerveyharmon Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darnyellejerveyharmon Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/darnyellejervey LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/darnyellejerveyharmon    Links Mentioned in the Episode: Movetomillions.com MovetoMillionsGroup.com HausofMillions.com Move to Millions Continuum Episode Move to Millions Live 2025   Subscribe to the Move to Millions Podcast: Listen on iTunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Stitcher Listen on iHeartRadio Listen on Pandora   Leave us a review Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don't want you to miss an episode. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you're not subscribed there's a good chance you'll miss out on those. Now if you're feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

It's Wednesday, May 28th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Somalian Muslim man trusts Christ and is kicked out of home A young Muslim man in Somalia was kicked out of his home recently after converting to Christianity.  The 20-year-old struggled with substance abuse and had not been home to see his Muslim parents for months. That's when an underground pastor shared the Gospel with him. The young man came to Christ and gained freedom from drug use. After going home, however, his parents drove him away because of his new faith. The young convert told Morning Star News, “Now that I have loved [Jesus], I do not have a family standing with me. I do no not know what to do. I need prayers.” Please pray for this brother in Christ in Somalia, Africa. The country is ranked second on the Open Doors' World Watch List of most difficult places to be a Christian.  In Matthew 19:29, Jesus said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” French Muslim youth vandalizing Catholic churches and assaulting Catholics The European Conservative reports there have been a string of attacks on churches in France recently which have received little attention from the mainstream media. In one case, Islamic youths insulted a Catholic priest and threatened to set the church building on fire earlier this month. Days earlier, another group disrupted a parish meeting in the same area. Muslim attacks on Catholics have included vandalism, physical assault, and kidnapping. Supremes split decision result: OK religious charter school unfunded In the United States, the Supreme Court delivered a split decision last Thursday in a case involving religious education. Previously, Oklahoma's charter school board had approved funding for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. It would have been the country's first publicly-funded religious charter school.  However, Oklahoma's Supreme Court blocked the school. And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 4-4 in the case, leaving the lower court ruling in place.  For some reason, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case.  Defense Secretary Hegseth: "“King Jesus, we come humbly before You." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth led a prayer meeting at the Pentagon last Wednesday. Listen to his opening prayer. HEGSETH: “If you would bow your head in prayer. “King Jesus, we come humbly before You, seeking Your face, seeking Your grace, in humble obedience to your law and to Your Word. We come as sinners, saved only by that grace, seeking Your providence in our lives and in our nation. “Lord God, we ask for the wisdom to see what is right, and in each and every day, in each and every circumstance, the courage to do what is right in obedience to Your will. “It is in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we pray. And all God's people said, Amen. Thank you.” The voluntary 30-minute prayer meeting was called “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service.” Hegseth said it may become a monthly event.  Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Planned Parenthood to close 8 abortion mills in Iowa and Minnesota Last Friday, Planned Parenthood North Central States announced it will close eight locations across Iowa and Minnesota over the next year. Planned Parenthood blamed the closures on states passing anti-abortion laws as well as a freeze on federal funding for abortion. The closures will also involve laying off 66 staff members. CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 shot for pregnant women & kids The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer recommend COVID-19 shots for pregnant women and healthy children. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the announcement yesterday. KENNEDY: “Hi everybody. I'm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, your HHS Secretary.  And I'm here with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty MaKary. “I couldn't be more pleased to announce that, as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC-recommended immunization schedule. Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children! BHATTACHARYA: “That ends today. It's common sense and it's good science.” MAKARY: “There's no evidence healthy kids need it today. And most countries have stopped recommending it for children.” KENNEDY: “We're now one step closer to realizing President Trump's promise to make America healthy again.” Lawmakers want to launch “Natural Family Month” Republican lawmakers in Ohio are considering a bill to celebrate families. The measure would designate the weeks from Mother's Day to Father's Day as “Natural Family Month.” The timeframe goes from the second Sunday in May to the third Sunday in June. This contrasts with Homosexual/Transgender Pride Month when many celebrate sexually perverted lifestyles in June. 1,500-year-old Christian graves in Israel discovered And finally, archaeologists recently uncovered 1,500-year-old Christian graves in Israel's Negev Desert. The graves reflect Christian burial practices. Inside, archaeologists found rare ebony figurines depicting individuals with African features. Researchers wrote, “It is possible that the deceased were of ‘Ethiopian' origin, and that they, or their ancestors, converted to Christianity and moved to the Negev.” The figurines were made out of ebony wood sourced from India or Sri Lanka and likely carved in Africa before being brought to the Negev.  Researchers believe it is the first time they have discovered such artifacts in the region of Israel and Jordan.  Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, May 28th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Gospel John 16:12-15 Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” Reflection The fascinating thing about the work of these young disciples of Jesus is that they had to learn through their experiences of ministry and the work that they were called to do, to grow in their understanding of who God is, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. It takes time. It takes diligence. And when we see the work of the advocate as being the one who continues to be the teacher, to be the one who awakens people to what they don't see, there is hope. Because even though Jesus doesn't walk this earth, the Holy Spirit surrounds us, awakens us to all that is true. Closing Prayer Father, we have a task. The task is to open ourselves to what is real. What is true. And we know that if we ever think that we've got it down, that we know everything we need to know, we're in trouble. Open us consistently to learn more and more about who you are and who we are in this world with you. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get access to daily prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Wednesday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 119:97-12097Oh, how I love your law! *all the day long it is in my mind.98Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *and it is always with me.99I have more understanding than all my teachers, *for your decrees are my study.100I am wiser than the elders, *because I observe your commandments.101I restrain my feet from every evil way, *that I may keep your word.102I do not shrink from your judgments, *because you yourself have taught me.103How sweet are your words to my taste! *they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.104Through your commandments I gain understanding; *therefore I hate every lying way. 105Your word is a lantern to my feet *and a light upon my path.106I have sworn and am determined *to keep your righteous judgments.107I am deeply troubled; *preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.108Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, *and teach me your judgments.109My life is always in my hand, *yet I do not forget your law.110The wicked have set a trap for me, *but I have not strayed from your commandments.111Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *truly, they are the joy of my heart.112I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *for ever and to the end. 113I hate those who have a divided heart, *but your law do I love.114You are my refuge and shield; *my hope is in your word.115Away from me, you wicked! *I will keep the commandments of my God.116Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, *and let me not be disappointed in my hope.117Hold me up, and I shall be safe, *and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.118You spurn all who stray from your statutes; *their deceitfulness is in vain.119In your sight all the wicked of the earth are but dross; *therefore I love your decrees.120My flesh trembles with dread of you; *I am afraid of your judgments. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsBaruch 3:24-37New Revised Standard Version24 O Israel, how great is the house of God,    how vast the territory that he possesses!25 It is great and has no bounds;    it is high and immeasurable.26 The giants were born there, who were famous of old,    great in stature, expert in war.27 God did not choose them,    or give them the way to knowledge;28 so they perished because they had no wisdom,    they perished through their folly.29 Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her,    and brought her down from the clouds?30 Who has gone over the sea, and found her,    and will buy her for pure gold?31 No one knows the way to her,    or is concerned about the path to her.32 But the one who knows all things knows her,    he found her by his understanding.The one who prepared the earth for all time    filled it with four-footed creatures;33 the one who sends forth the light, and it goes;    he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;    he called them, and they said, “Here we are!”    They shone with gladness for him who made them.35 This is our God;    no other can be compared to him.36 He found the whole way to knowledge,    and gave her to his servant Jacob    and to Israel, whom he loved.37 Afterward she appeared on earth    and lived with humankind. James 5:13-1813 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. Luke 12:22-3122 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsThe Sixth Week of EasterO God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*.* Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And today, we're thanking Kim Sheffield from San Jose, CA. Kim, your support through Project23 helps others see the light of Christ in Scripture—day by day. This one's for you. Today, we're looking at Mark 4:21-25: And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” — Mark 4:21-25 Jesus moves from seeds and soil to lamps and light. He asks the room a simple question: "Who lights a lamp and hides it under a basket or under a bed?" The question is rhetorical, and the answer is obvious—"Nobody does that!" That would defeat the purpose. But then Jesus connects that lamp to truth—to revelation, understanding, and obedience. God's truth isn't meant to be tucked away or kept in private. His truth is meant to shine. Jesus then says: “For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest.” In other words, God reveals truth so it can be shared. He uncovers things not to conceal—but to display. And when he illuminates your life, he expects you to live in the light of understanding and share that understanding. He expects you to use it. Then He presses in further: “Pay attention to what you hear.” With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. That's both encouragement and warning. The more open you are to the Word, the more light you'll receive. But the more you ignore it, the easier it is to lose even what you had. Truth is a gift given—but it's also a responsibility to bear. We're not just called to hear it and consume it. We're called to live it and share it. So, what are you doing with the light you've been given? Are you hiding it in fear? Are you keeping it to yourself? Or are you projecting and proclaiming it for others to see? #LiveTheLight, #Mark4Devotional, #Project23 ASK THIS: What truth has God recently illuminated for you? How are you using what you've heard from Scripture? Are you guarding the light—or giving it away? What would it look like to “pay attention” to God's Word today? DO THIS: Take one truth God has revealed to you—and share it boldly with someone today. PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for revealing your truth to me through your Word. Help me not to hide it, but to live and share it boldly today. Amen. PLAY THIS: Shine On Us.

Daily Dose of Hope May 28, 2025 Day 3 of Week 8   Scripture - Matthew 5:38-48   Prayer:  Almighty Father, Thank you for loving us despite our many faults.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us seek holiness in all we do.  Help us become the people you desire us to be.  As we work through today's Scripture and devotional, I pray that you speak to our hearts.  Help us see things differently.  We want to hear from you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are back in the Sermon on the Mount and learning more about what it means to live in the Kingdom of God.  We are finishing up Matthew 5.   The first portion of this Scripture is regarding an eye for an eye.  It was said an eye for an eye, but now I tell you to turn the other cheek.  I want to be clear, Jesus is not saying that we should never resist those who are trying to harm us.  He isn't say to be Christian doormats.  The Old Testament law about taking an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth actually promoted justice rather than vengeance.  If someone gives you a black eye, you can't then break their leg or kill them.  Jesus was also all about justice.  What exactly is he requiring of us?   Let's talk about what it means to turn the other cheek.  We think of a slap as a pretty terrible thing.  If someone slapped me, I would really be taken aback and consider it an assault.  Not so much in Jesus' day.  A slap on the cheek would have been an insult but not an assault.  Jesus specifically mentioned a right-cheek slap, which would have indicated a backhand slap.  That was a real insult, it was the kind of slap someone would give to a person beneath them.  It was patronizing and demoralizing.  By turning the other cheek, it challenged the offender to now strike the left cheek with an open palm.  And open palm slap, at that time, was something done to an equal.  Basically, turning the other cheek means that the victim is not taking the backhanded slap as a form of condescending shame.  They will face their offender face on, forcing them to either back down or treat them as an equal.   Then, we have Jesus saying that if someone wants to sue you for your shirt, give them your coat as well.  The shirt would have been the inner garment and the coat the outer garment.  The Old Testament law allowed someone, usually a poor person, to use their coat as collateral for a loan.  But it also required the lender to give it back by nighttime in case they get cold.  To give up the coat voluntarily would have been extraordinary.  Jesus is challenging people to think creatively in responding to an evildoer.  It forces the greedy person to confront what they doing.  It also provides a stark contrast between the one who is greedy and the one who is exceedingly generous.  In God's Kingdom, generosity is the virtue.    This is the thing: In God's Kingdom, things are turned upside down.  We don't respond to violence with more violence or greed with more greed.  We resist those things in creative ways.  This does not mean being victims or getting walked all over.  It means asserting power differently.    One of the most intriguing of the teachings is to love our enemies. This would have been unheard of in first-century Palestine. Love your enemies? What? Jesus' basis for this teaching is founded in God's own nature. God is, first and foremost, a God of love. He gives sun and rain to the good and the evil alike. He does not discriminate. Nor should we. The Pharisees cast judgment on others but we are not to do the same. We should seek to be perfect, as God is perfect, to have a heart willing to love those who seem to be unlovable.   Be honest with yourself. Who have you deemed unlovable? Spend some time with God reconciling this.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. — Philippians 3:20 Citizenship has its privileges. Citizens of a nation can have access to education, community services, social services, health care, and more. Being a citizen of heaven takes us to a different level altogether. When our identity is rooted in Christ, his home becomes ours, because through him we become children of God with an eternal inheritance. Even though we still live here on the earth, we are privileged to live abundantly as part of a kingdom not crafted by human hands. Being citizens of heaven prompts us to pursue higher goals and take on a broader perspective than mere earthly citizenship can offer. This transforms our priorities, redirects our ambitions, and empowers us to endure. If you have seen the launching of a hot-air balloon, you understand the struggle. The more the balloon fills with heated air, the greater the struggle to keep the basket earth-bound. The cords holding it to the ground become taut and strained. And when they are released, the balloon majestically ascends toward the heavens. Similarly in some ways, the more we are filled with God's Spirit, the stronger our vision for life in God's eternal kingdom becomes. Focusing on these things moves us to live in a way that not only longs for heaven but also seeks to bring a taste of heaven to earth. Heavenly Father, as we navigate the challenges of this world, may we always put you first in our lives. Help us to anchor our hope in full life with you forever. Amen.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where each day we journey together through the pages of Scripture. In today's episode, host Hunter invites us into Proverbs chapters 4 through 6 and the powerful truth found in Romans chapter 8. We'll reflect on the call to pursue wisdom, the promise of God's transformative love, and what it means to live free from condemnation. At the heart of today's reading is a message of hope: no matter our brokenness, nothing can separate us from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus. Join us as we spend time in prayer, gratitude, and encouragement—reminding ourselves and one another that we are deeply loved by God and invited to walk in the fullness of His resurrection life. So, grab your Bible and let's dive in as we set our hearts on wisdom, freedom, and the unbreakable love of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: God does what our bodies cannot do, and God achieves what our sinful natures fail to achieve. At the beginning of Romans 8, we hear: “So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” There are just some things that cannot be done on our own, try as we might. We and our world are too broken, and to us, it might seem beyond repair, beyond redemption, or hope. But not to God. All things are possible with God. God sent us Mister Hope himself, his Son, in a body like ours. And through Jesus, God brought us the life he shares with the Father and the Spirit—a vision for what our lives can be as we walk in his Spirit. Resurrection life is on offer to us—right here, right now. A life not just someday, but a life of hope, peace, joy, kindness, and grace. A life free. You are loved by God. He has united himself to you, just as you are, in his Son. And there is now no separation—not from your circumstance, your shame, your failings, not from anything in heaven or earth. That's the promise in Christ: there is no separating you from that love. Now, because of what Christ has done for you, you are invited to live into that love, to live in and through Christ by the Spirit. Let his life in you find fuller expression today in everything you do. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Loving God, you have knit us together in the body of Christ from every nation and tongue. Make us a vessel of your peace today. Make us a vessel of your peace today. Where hatred stirs, let us bear your love. Where wounds run deep, let us be agents of pardon. Where fear grips hearts, may we speak faith. Where sorrow hangs heavy, May we carry joy. Teach us to listen more than we speak. To understand before we are understood. To love. For in surrender, we find abundance. In mercy, we discover grace. And in dying, we rise into your life. In the name of Jesus. Amen. And now as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

GS#1,001 Summary Dr. Joe Parent, featured on episode #1 starts the next era of Golf Smarter with his 18th appearance on the show. Joe and host Fred Greene discuss the importance of mindset and confidence in golf, drawing from Dr. Parent's hugely popular series of books on the mental game, starting with 'Zen Golf'. The conversation delves into the PAR approach to golf, emphasizing preparation, action, and response to results, and concludes with the principles of honor and friendship in the game. Joe discusses the principles of Zen Golf, emphasizing resilience, mindfulness, and the mental aspects of the game. He shares insights on how to overcome obstacles, the importance of breath and focus, and the need for improvisation on the golf course. Learn more at drjoeparent.comGet more when your visit the refreshed golfsmarter.com!Introduce an Upcoming Episode: Receive free gifts for recording a show opening by clicking on "Record Your Show Open Here!" tab on the right side of golfsmarter.com. Watch Daily Video Highlights from Our Interviews: Follow @golfsmarter on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube daily to see our highlights and helpful insights from our interviews on the podcast. Post a Review: you'll receive three free gifts when you post an honest review about Golf Smarter the podcast.Fill Out a Listener Survey: It only takes a few minutes to fill out our survey, which helps us to better serve your interests in the podcast. You'll receive a free link to Tony Manzoni's video and Justin Tang's summary of Tony's Lost Fundamental on pdf!Visit tourstriker.com/TSGA and use the code GOLFSMARTER to get your first month of the Tour Striker GolfAcademy Online free, plus instant access to two bonus courses—'The Recipe for Better Golf' and 'Bombs: How to Consistently Smash the Driver”: a $194 value for free.This episode is brought to you by PXG. Schedule your fitting today and for a limited time you could save up to 20% on your ENTIRE order! Head over to PXG.com/smarter. Restrictions apply, see site for details.This episode is sponsored by Indeed. Please visit indeed.com/GOLFSMARTER and get a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT. Terms and conditions apply.   This episode is sponsored by HIMS. Start your free online visit today HIMS.com/golfsmarter and received personalized ED treatment options.This episode is also sponsored by SelectQuote. Make sure you get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/golfsmarter today and get started. 

Welcome to Day 2639 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2639 – New Testament Orientation – The Four Gospels - Four Witnesses to the King Putnam Church Message – 05/25/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 5: The Four Gospels   Last week, we explored how Jesus appears in history outside the Bible. Our core verses were: Matthew 25:31-36   This week is Sermon: 5 of 12 Title: The Four Gospels - Four Witnesses to the King Core Verses: Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) (Opening Prayer) Heavenly Father, we gather today, much like those early followers of Jesus gathered centuries ago, to learn more about the one you sent into the world. We thank you for the collection of sacred writings we hold – this “biblos,” this library of books that tells your story and your plan. As we open the pages that tell the story of Jesus, the four Gospels, we pray for your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds. Help us to hear these accounts not just as ancient history, but as living witnesses to your Son. Grant us eyes to see Him through the unique perspectives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. May their words draw us closer to Jesus, deepening our faith and empowering us for the mission He has given us. In His name, we pray, Amen. (Introduction) We continue our journey through the New Testament with our fifth message, which turns our attention to the heart of this collection of writings: the Four Gospels. The word Bible, its original name, “biblos,” simply means “book” or “scroll.” It wasn't initially a religious term, but it became the name for this unique collection of divine writings over time. The New Testament is a collection, not a single, continuous narrative written by one hand at one time, but a library. We have letters penned by apostles like Paul, a historical account of the early church's actions (the Book of Acts), and then we have these four extraordinary books that stand at the beginning: the Gospels. What exactly are the Gospels? They aren't typical letters like Paul wrote. They seem like histories, bio/graphical accounts, and maybe even theological treatises> in some sense. Unlike modern books with authors clearly listed on the cover, the Gospels are, strictly speaking, anonymous within their texts. Yet, from very early times, strong traditions connected these writings to specific individuals: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These weren't random scribes but people closely linked to Jesus or His closest followers. These four distinct accounts of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection became foundational. Imagine being an Israelite or early Christian in the first century. You've heard stories about Jesus – perhaps you even saw Him, or have spoken to someone who did. Now, people are writing down these accounts. Why four? Why not just one definitive story? As we delve into Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we'll see that while they tell the same core story, they each offer a unique portrait of Jesus, emphasizing different aspects of who He is and what He did. They are four witnesses, each highlighting the glorious King from a slightly different angle, tailored for different audiences and purposes within that burgeoning early faith community. Let's explore these four unique yet harmonious voices. (Bulletin...

Gospel  John 16:5-11 Jesus said to his disciples: "Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” Reflection The disciples had learned to lean on the presence of Jesus as their teacher. And he's now telling them that he's going to leave them, and they're distraught and worried and afraid. And what he reminds them is that his promise has always been to be with them, and he will be with him as the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Blessed Trinity. And the most exciting thing that he's saying to his disciples, is that now that Jesus has died and returned to the father and sent the advocate, the Holy Spirit, sin has been condemned. Exposed. Revealed. And we are much closer now than ever to the Kingdom of God being established. Closing Prayer Father, there's a way in which we hear so much about all that is going on in the world that is negative. And it's easy to fear that the world is getting worse when in truth it is getting better. It is continuing to move in the direction of light and life. That's the promise that God has made to the disciples and to each of us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And a big shout-out to James Walker from Laredo, TX. James, thank you for being a vital part of Project23. Because of you, we're helping people across the world receive and respond to the Word of God. This one's for you. Today, we're looking at Mark 4:13-20: And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” — Mark 4:13-20 The disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable—and he did. No mystery. No guessing. Just clarity to those who ask, seek, and knock. He told them that the seed is the Word of God. And the soil? That's our hearts. What makes this parable so powerful is that it doesn't just explain how to grow—but why so many don't. Some hear the Word and Satan snatches it away before it can even sink in. Some hear and respond quickly—but without roots, they wither under pressure. Some let the Word grow—but it gets choked out by anxiety, money, distractions, and desires. Some—only some—receive the Word deeply, producing a harvest far beyond their own ability. The prevalence and prominence of the Word is never the problem. The condition of our hearts is always the problem. And this parable isn't about four different kinds of people. It's about four different kinds of hearts and their responses. And if we're honest, we've probably been all four in our lives. Sometimes we're hard. Sometimes we're shallow. Sometimes we're distracted. Sometimes—we're finally open, and the Word bears fruit. So the personal and probing question is: What kind of soil is my heart today? And here's the good news: soil can change. The Spirit can till, soften, clear, and prepare your heart again. You just have to ask. Are your ready to ask? Spirit, soften my calloused heart to the seed of truth. Multiply your Word and truth through me. May I bear a bountiful harvest. Amen. #HeartCheck, #GoodSoil, #FruitfulFaith ASK THIS: Which soil type best describes your heart right now—and why? What tends to choke out the Word in your life the most? How can you build stronger spiritual roots? What fruit have you seen when the Word takes deep root in your life? DO THIS: Write down one thing that's currently choking or distracting you from fully receiving God's Word. Then pray and ask God to help you clear it out. PRAY THIS: God, I want to be good soil. Help me uproot what's shallow, hardened, or distracting. Let your Word go deep—and bear lasting fruit in my life. Amen. PLAY THIS: Clear the Stage.

Daily Dose of Hope May 27, 2025 Day 2 of Week 8   Scripture - Matthew 5:13-37   Prayer:  Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us.  We rejoice and give praise for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances.  Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness.  Help us seek pure hearts.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It's in your name we pray, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are working on part 2 of Matthew 5, as we continue to discuss the Sermon on the Mount.    Today's portion of Scripture begins with a discussion of salt and light. Jesus tells his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” During Jesus' time, salt was extremely important. It was a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and because of its value, it was even used as a unit of exchange.   So what is Jesus saying here? He is telling his followers that God's people should add some flavor and value to this world. If salt loses its saltiness or flavor, then it's useless. If we lose our ability to change or influence the world, then are we useless? Well, we certainly lose what is at the heart of being a Christ-follower - making a difference for the Kingdom. We are meant to change the world around us for the better in the name of Jesus Christ.   Jesus continues, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” Salt improves food because it tastes different from what its being placed on. In the same way, light is useful to have because it is different from darkness. Light casts out darkness. Light makes a difference. If light is hidden, it loses what makes it valuable. Likewise, if we fail to be different in a positive way from the culture around us, then we are Christians in name only.   So what does this mean in practical ways?  Well, we are to be change agents, going out and doing all we can to bring God's Kingdom values here, right now. Remember what we say in the Lord's Prayer, “His kingdom come, his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The disciples and the early Christian church took these words seriously. The early Christian church lived in a way, lived a lifestyle, that was so distinctly different from the world, that the world could not help but notice it. They lived out the values of the Kingdom. Acts 2:42-47 reads, “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, the the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The earliest Christians were completely transformed by the teachings of Jesus Christ and his values. They were salt and they were light, they added true value and made a significant difference.   Here's several questions for us to consider today.  How are we, as modern-day Christians, salt and light for a hurting world?  How are we similar to the early church and how are we different?  What are some concrete steps you can take today to be salt and light in your world?   Then, Matthew chose to include Jesus' teaching on the fulfillment of the law.  He came not to change the law but to fulfill it.  But what does that mean?  Jesus is not talking about the law in the sense of the 613 rules that must be followed by faithful Jews.  If we think about this teaching being in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus in giving his followers specific guidelines for what it means to relate to God and others in the Kingdom, then that helps.  Afterall, the law and the prophets have long described relating to God and other people in a loving, just way.  Here, Jesus is saying that he will obey the law, but he really is fulfilling it by fulfilling the whole Biblical story.    Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, God was on a mission to redeem his creation.  The law couldn't do it because humans couldn't keep it.  We are just too sinful.  The law demonstrated to us just how messy and broken we are.  Jesus was the solution to our brokenness.  Jesus was the solution to humanity's deepest problems.  He was the final sacrifice for sin – he very much fulfilled the law, he fulfilled the whole Biblical story, by providing a solution to our sin and victory over death.  The law wasn't intended to be the end all be all.  Jesus was intended to be the end all be all.   I want to leave a little time to cover what Jesus said about murder and adultery.  Both of these teachings show some unique aspects of life under the Kingdom of God.  They follow a similar pattern.  It was said...but now I tell you this...  Jesus is presenting his followers with a whole new way of looking at the world. He isn't dismissing the Old Testament teaching, he is simply reinterpreting it.   In the case of murder, it was said that you should not commit murder, but Jesus is saying that you shouldn't even be angry with a brother or sister.  Don't call someone names, forgive frequently, and settle disputes quickly.  That is the way of life in God's Kingdom.  If we act differently, then it's not God's Kingdom we are part of.   In the case of adultery, it was said you should not commit adultery, but Jesus is saying that you can't look at another person lustfully if they aren't your spouse.  And then there is this really hard teaching about gouging out an eye if it causes you to sin or lopping off a hand if it causes you to sin.  I'm quite sure this was hyperbole because we don't have too many reports of one-eyed, one-handed believers of Jesus in the first century.    But in all of these things, Jesus is making a point.  What is in your heart matters.  It isn't just outward behavior that matters to God, but the purity of your heart.   So, here are our final questions for us today and they are not easy ones.  What is the state of your heart?  Are you harboring anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness, toward someone?  It is time to spend some time with God and work through that.  Is lust something you struggle with?  It is time to spend some time with God and work through that too.  Our hearts matter, friends.  They matter a lot.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. — Ephesians 1:4 The Bible explains that believers have been freely and generously chosen by God. This choosing is not based on our appearance, intelligence, personality, status, or anything else. It's not something we earn or deserve. Instead, it's a purely gracious act. God, in his great love, initiates the process of salvation. By his sovereign will and good pleasure, God has decided to save us, making rescue and redemption possible for all who have been made in his image (Genesis 1:26-27). Even though we were ensnared in sin, Jesus died to deliver us from the curse of sin and death to make us holy in God's sight. Being chosen by God is an overwhelming blessing that fills us with humility and helps us see that there is no room for pride or boasting. It also instills in us a sense of security and confidence, recognizing that our salvation is not based on our religious performance. Instead, as God's chosen possession, we belong to him. Body and soul—in life and in death—we are his, and nothing can snatch us from his hand (John 10:28-30). What an exhilarating honor—to be chosen, wanted, and valued by the most significant being in the universe! Gracious God, thank you for choosing us. Thank you for being the author, perfecter, and finisher of our faith. May we live with the assurance that you will complete the good work you have begun in us. For Jesus' sake, Amen.

What if your life was truly Spirit-filled?In this final message from our Yes and Amen series, we talk about the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit He grows in us, and the friendship He offers every follower of Jesus.Because without gifts, we're powerless…Without character, we're dangerous…And without friendship, we're directionless.Let the Holy Spirit do His full work in your life! Main Scripture: John 16, Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 12Subscribe for more spirit-filled, practical messages.If this message speaks to you, let us know in the comments and share it with a friend!

Genesis 1-2, 7-9 Listen to other great sleep mediations on Amen.Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed.Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle.

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.Vos estis sal terrae. Quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur? ad nihilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittatur foras, et conculcetur ab hominibus. 14 You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem posita, 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.neque accedunt lucernam, et ponunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt. 16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus : ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est. 17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.Nolite putare quoniam veni solvere legem, aut prophetas : non veni solvere, sed adimplere. 18 For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.Amen quippe dico vobis, donec transeat caelum et terra, jota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege, donec omnia fiant. 19 He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.Qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis istis minimis, et docuerit sic homines, minimus vocabitur in regno caelorum : qui autem fecerit et docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno caelorum.Bede was a Benedictine, a holy monk of Jarrow, in the eighth century. He was of great learning and was famous in Christian literature. He died A.D. 735.

We're celebrating 16 years of marriage with an honest conversation about how we've changed—and why that's actually a good thing. From big shifts in values to small daily habits, we're looking back at what's surprised us, what's helped us grow together instead of apart, and how our relationship has stayed both rooted and flexible. Plus: a few fun stories, some hard-won lessons, and encouragement for couples in any season. Closing Liturgy / Prayer: God who binds us in love, Thank you for the gift of change. For growing pains that draw us closer. For surprises that soften us. Help us not to fear the ways we evolve— But to embrace each other in every new season. Make our hearts tender, Our words gentle, Our laughter frequent. And when it's hard, Remind us: You are still with us. in year one, In year sixteen, In all the years to come. Amen. ____________ If you love what we do and want more behind-the-scenes fun, bonus episodes, and exclusive content, join the walk in love. Podcast Membership today!

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible with your host, Hunter! In today's episode, Hunter invites us to join him on a journey through the wisdom-packed pages of Proverbs chapters 1–3 and Paul's powerful letter in Romans chapter 7. Together, we reflect on life-changing lessons about wisdom, discipline, and the foundation of true knowledge—the fear of the Lord. As Hunter unpacks the struggle between our desire to do good and the reality of sinful nature, he reminds us that it is through Christ's love and resurrection that we find freedom, purpose, and unity with God. The episode wraps up with heartfelt prayers for guidance, mercy, and a reminder that no matter where we are, we are deeply loved. So grab your Bible, settle in, and let's discover what God has for us today! TODAY'S DEVOTION: He has done it all, and drawn us into his life. Paul, in Romans 7, speaks to the deep longing and inner conflict that so many of us feel. We want to do what is right, but we fail. We strive for goodness but stumble into the same old patterns. We reach for life, but find ourselves tangled in things that lead to frustration or shame. And often, we imagine that if we just tried harder—just obeyed the letter of the law with a little more grit—we could finally be the people God wants us to be. But Paul tells us plainly: the law itself, as good and holy as it is, cannot rescue us. It can show us God's standard, it can reveal where we've missed the mark, but it cannot break the power of sin within us or set us free. So what hope do we have? Paul's answer is clear: our hope is not in our own performance, but in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Listen to Paul's words: "You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ, and now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead." The work has already been done—not by your effort, but by Christ's life, death, and resurrection. He has defeated sin, death, and the grave. He was raised to new life and has swept us up into that life with him. This means that you are not striving for a freedom you don't yet possess. You have been freed, united with Christ, and caught up in the triune love of God. You are not defined by what you lack or by your failures, but by the life and love of the risen Jesus that is now yours—right now, in this day. So now, you are empowered to produce good fruit. Why? Because you are joined to Christ, grafted into his life. That changes everything. Out of this union comes real righteousness, real love, real peace, and healing—not things you have to conjure up through effort, but gifts that grow naturally as you remain in him. Let us live from this place of calm confidence and joyful assurance. Let us walk today as people radically loved by God, equipped by his Spirit, and invited to share his love with the world. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Almighty and ever loving God, you have brought us to the light of a new morning. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may walk this day in peace. Guard our steps from temptation. Shield us from the weight of fear and shame, and lead us deeper into the joy of your presence through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O Christ, light of the nations, shine in every place where shadows dwell. Call the scattered home, heal the wounds of division, and gather all people into the communion of your grace. May the knowledge of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Amen. And now, Lord, make my hands ready for mercy. Make my eyes quick to see the hurting, my ears open to the cry of the lonely, and my feet swift to bring good news. Let me seek to bless, not to be noticed, to serve, not to be praised, to forgive, not to hold back. For in your way is life, in your mercy is healing, and in your love is the peace this world cannot give. Amen. And now as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

264. Simple Ideas for Incorporating Art with Children and Teens with Courtney Sanford   Colossians 3:23 NLT "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."   **Transcription Below**   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Can you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art and give an example of ways our children can engage with each? What are the best art supplies to have on hand? As our children grow, why is this helpful in the teen years to have a healthy way to express ourselves and our ideas?   Courtney Sanford is a dedicated wife, and mother who triumphantly homeschooled her three children. With one pursuing a career in orthodontics, another just finishing a master's degree while working in higher education, and the youngest studying computer science at Regent University, Courtney's commitment to their education has yielded remarkable success.   Passionate about nurturing creativity and self-expression, she guides students through captivating art classes, exploring the intersection of imagination and skill. With her background as a graphic designer and experience in studio art, Courtney embarked on a new adventure as an art teacher.    As a multitasking mom, author, artist, teacher, and adventurer, Courtney embodies the spirit of embracing life's opportunities and fostering a love for learning and artistic expression.   Beyond her love for education, Courtney has an insatiable wanderlust. She finds joy in traversing the globe, hosting art retreats, and volunteering at Spiritual Twist Productions: both painting sets, and serving on the board of directors. When time permits, Courtney indulges in spring snow skiing, hiking in exotic locations, and leisurely walks with her dog, Zoey.   Delightful Art Co. was born out of a time when life gave Courtney a handful of lemons, and she creatively transformed those lemons into refreshing lemonade. The Covid shutdown rather forcefully prompted a major shift from in-person art classes to online classes.    Courtney's Website   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Other Episodes Mentioned: 202 Simple Ways to Connect with Our Kids And Enjoy Breaks with Beth Rosenbleeth (Days with Grey) 223 Journey and Learnings as Former Second Lady of the United States with Karen Pence   Continue the conversation with us on Facebook, Instagram or our website.   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*    Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:36) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I am thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage.   Their weekend retreats will strengthen your marriage, and you will enjoy this gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Courtney Sanford is my guest today, and she's an amazing artist and teacher and author, and I'm just so excited to share this conversation. If you're like me and you're ready for summer and your rhythm changes with your kids, she's going to share some super practical tips for incorporating art and beauty into our homes.   And I think that you're going to conclude this conversation by knowing where to begin and understanding why it matters. Here's our chat.    Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Courtney.   Courtney Sanford: Thanks for having me.    Laura Dugger: I'm so excited to hear more about your story, so will you share what has led you into the work that you get to do today?   Courtney Sanford: (1:37 - 4:20) I sure do like to share that story. I didn't start off as a homeschooler. I didn't imagine that that would be where my life went, but I was always a creative person.   I was a graphic designer, and I worked in the Performing Arts Center, and I got to do lots of fun design for shows. Then along came kids. I actually enjoyed dropping them off at school and going to Target, and I was okay with that.   We didn't do public school because the school near me didn't look safe, and we had lived near Columbine High School and thought it was just a beautiful, beautiful school. And when we left Colorado, we thought, oh, isn't it sad that our kids won't go to school there? And then just about a month later, the whole Columbine shooting happened, and so we were kind of traumatized by all of that.   And then when I saw the school that my precious five-year-old would go to, it didn't look safe, and so we sent them to a private school. So here we are spending a lot of money, having high expectations, and the kids were doing all worksheets all the time, and they started to dread going to school, and they didn't love learning, and the excitement of learning just kind of drained out of them. And so we looked into other options and decided that homeschooling would be the way to go, and I found the classical model and just loved the way that sounded, and we tried it, and it worked, and the little lights just came back on in their eyes, and they started to love learning again.   And I just found my people, and I just learned everything I could about homeschooling, and I just poured myself into it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. And had a great time, and I just loved my time with my kids, and I felt like it was successful, and I encouraged other people to do it, but I wasn't really sure that it worked until they got into college and they turned out to be successful, thriving humans, and we're really proud of them. One will be a doctor in about a month.   He's about to graduate. He has a wife and a little girl, and then my second one has her MBA, and she works for a Christian college where she leads trips, and she's getting ready to take a group to Paris and London, and so she kind of ministers to students through that, and then my youngest is still in school staying to be a software developer. So now I can confidently say it was worth all the energy that I put into it.   It was hard work, probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but so worth it.   Laura Dugger: (4:21 - 4:40) That's incredible, and I love hearing the success story where your children are now, but you really also inspired them with beauty and art in their learning and growing up time, and I'm curious, are there any personal lessons that the Lord has taught you through art?   Courtney Sanford: (4:41 - 6:32) Oh, goodness. Yeah, I think my desire was to make learning interactive because I saw what they were doing in the private school, which was sit in a chair all day and do your worksheets, and it was just worksheet after worksheet after worksheet and then a quiz, and then you get graded, and so I was thinking if I'm going to pull them out, I've got to do better than that, and so that was my standard, and I was going to beat that standard every day, and so I pulled in art because that's what I knew, so if we were learning about an animal, we would draw the animal. If we were learning about a continent, we would draw the continent until we could draw it from memory, and I really learned with them. I did not have a great elementary education or even high school education, so I would learn this stuff, and then I would think of creative ways to get them involved with it, so a lot of times it was drawing.   It could be painting. It could be making things out of clay. We used to make things out of Rice Krispie Treats, and then they could take it to their co-op group.   Well, it was a classical conversations group, but they do presentations, and so we made a Mayan temple out of Rice Krispie Treats, and we would make volcanoes, and then they could take it to their friends and share it with them and tell them about it, so anything I could do that would get us out of the chair using our hands and using our senses and think, you know, how can I incorporate all five senses, and that just made learning so much more fun for them and for me, and so a lot of it was art. Some of it was science.   Anytime I could incorporate a sense of play into what they were learning, I could see that they would learn so much more.   Laura Dugger: (6:32 - 6:55) I love that, trying to incorporate all five senses, especially. That gets some ideas coming, but can you even back it up, and because you're an artist, will you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art, and can you give us examples as parents for ways that we can engage our children with each of those?   Courtney Sanford: (6:56 - 10:58) Oh, sure. Let me think. All right, so drawing, of course, you can draw what you see, so when I teach students to draw, I do a progression, so we'll draw from line art, and you can find line art anywhere.   It might be in a children's book, so using the library was key for me, so I'd get a laundry basket, and I would go to the library with an index card of what we'd be studying, and I would grab all kinds of books related to that, so when you come home, you get out a kid's book. If you see a good line drawing, say you're studying a lizard, if you see a good line drawing, draw from that. They could even trace it to start with, so you draw from the line drawing, then once they get really confident with that, you go to drawing from photos, and then you go to drawing from real life, so maybe you have a fish tank.   Maybe there's a fish in the fish tank, and you could draw from that or draw things in your yard, so that is how I break down drawing for them, and it could be years. You could draw from line art for years before you go to drawing from photos, and then to drawing from real life, and drawing's great for learning to memorize things. For painting, painting's just fun, and so I like to go to the kitchen table every afternoon and paint what you see, so you start off with the younger kids.   You could start with color and markers and fill in the areas, and then you can teach them how to shade using painting. Sculpture is also fun with kids. I like air-dry clay, and I like Sculpey clay.   I like to get a one-pound block of Sculpey clay and teach them the basic forms, like roll out a snake, do your hands together. Those of you who are listening, you can't see my hands, but I am making a sphere with imaginary clay. These are really good for developing their fine motor skills, too.   We also make the letters out of roll-out snakes and form your letters. That will really help if they're reversing letters. It takes a while to build the whole alphabet, so maybe you do three or four letters a day.   You work on it a couple times a week. It might take a month to make the whole alphabet, but that can be one goal, to get them working in three dimensions. We usually do additive sculpture, like adding on, and you can use found objects to make sculptures.   One time, my son took apart a pen. I rearranged the pieces into a human shape, and it was lovely. Getting them thinking in three dimensions is related to sculpture.   Carving, I don't like to do until they're old enough to be safe with a knife, but once they are, especially the boys love to go outside in the yard and get a log. They spend a lot of time carving spoons. Just a simple shape they can hold in their mind and then carve it is a good activity.   It keeps their little hands busy, too, if you want to read aloud to them and you don't mind a little mess in the house, they can carve. You can also carve out of a bar of soap as well. For that, that's a subtractive sculpture technique.   Let's see. That's the three main ones, drawing, painting, sculpture. I know film is one.   Film, I don't really incorporate much into my homeschool, except we will occasionally watch a movie about history. That has gotten me into trouble a few times because some of those movies that I think are going to be historic turn out to have racy scenes in them, and I'll have to jump up and get in front of the TV or cough really loud. But there are some good films that you can watch together as a family.   That's about as far as I went with film.   Laura Dugger: (10:59 - 11:19) I would, if you don't mind me interrupting there, too. I feel like that's one that our girls have actually begun to develop on their own, where our eldest daughter once wanted a video camera, so she got the old-school video camera. They're making their own movies, and I've seen that as a form of creative, artistic play.   Courtney Sanford: (11:20 - 11:49) Oh, that's fabulous. Yes, so when my kids were little, we didn't even have phones or video cameras on the phones, so that wasn't an option. When we first started homeschooling, our TV died, and so we did not even have a TV for years.   We just decided not to replace it, which forced us into audiobooks and reading aloud and then just playing outside instead and reading books. So that was a blessing.   Laura Dugger: (11:49 - 12:03) I love that because that's one of the other forms. That was new to me, that literature is an art form. Sorry, I sidetracked you because we still have literature, architecture, theater, and music.   Courtney Sanford: (12:04 - 14:20) Yeah, I think the best thing that we did for our kids, of course, I love teaching them to write using Andrew Pudewa's method with IEW. It's kind of imitative writing, so you learn to imitate good writers. But also, my husband read aloud to the kids every single night.   That was his time with him. He gave me a break, and he would read for hours. He loved it.   The kids loved it. And he would choose classics or funny things, you know, science fiction. Probably not the books that I would choose.   I would choose classics and things related to what we were studying, but he chose what he wanted to read. So I would read aloud in the afternoons, and we would do audiobooks like Story of the World and all the Jim Weiss readings. And then he would read aloud at night.   And just whatever he wanted to choose, he would read aloud. And I think hearing good language produces good speakers and good writers. So he gets about 50 percent of the credit for the success of the kids, I think, for just reading aloud every night.   It was such a great thing to do for the kids. And then the last one, architecture. I do incorporate architecture when I'm teaching about a culture.   So, if we're doing art history or history, we'll look at the buildings. So, of course, you do that with ancient Egypt. You look at the pyramids.   When you're talking Old Testament times, you look at the tents. And then as I go through art history with the high schoolers, I'll point out more and more like neoclassical, of course, comes from the ancient Greeks, but it's come to symbolize power and authority. And that's why we see it in government buildings.   So, my degree is graphic design, but it was in the School of Architecture. So, I had a lot of history of architecture and I appreciate it. And so I'm always pointing that out to my kids.   And I do that in my class, in my art history class. I always incorporate the architecture just as a part of understanding a culture.   Laura Dugger: (14:21 - 14:29) I love that. And was there anything specific that you did with your kids for encouraging music or also theater?   Courtney Sanford: (14:30 - 15:29) Oh, yeah. One thing I wish I had done more of was kinder music. I don't know why we didn't do that much kinder music, but now I'm learning more about it.   I wish I had done more of that. And I did put them in piano lessons. One wanted to do violin.   So, they had a few years of learning the basics of music, and then they really got into theater. We have a great Christian youth theater nearby. And so that was a really good experience.   In their Christian youth theater, they would sing praise and worship songs before and during and after a play. They would be praying for the audience and singing worship songs in addition to the singing on the stage. And that whole experience was really good for them.   Even my quietest kid got a big role in a play one time, and he had to memorize a lot of lines and sing in front of people. It's just such a great experience for them.   Laura Dugger: (15:30 - 15:57) I would think so. Even if they don't choose something that we would consider a very artistic career, I can see why all of this is still beneficial. That leads me to another question for you.   Regardless of the way that all of us parents listening are choosing to educate our children, why is it still beneficial for all of us to incorporate art into our homes and into our parenting?   Courtney Sanford: (15:58 - 21:59) That's a great question. So, the first line of the Bible says God created. So, the first thing we learn about God is that he was creative.   He created everything. And then just a few lines later, it says then he created man in his own image. So that tells me that we were created to be creative, to create.   Now, he doesn't let us create stuff out of nothing like him, which is probably for our own good. That would be a mess. But we can create things out of what he created.   And there is a study done by George Land. And there's a video on YouTube of George Land giving a talk about this creativity study that he did. And he created a test for NASA to help them find creative engineers when they were trying to get to the moon.   And they used it to study creativity in children. And they tested five-year-olds. So, they found a group of 1,600 five-year-olds who were in school.   And when they tested them at five years old, 98% of them tested as creative geniuses. So, their plan was to go every five years and test them again just to see what was going on. So, they went back after five years.   The kids are now 10. And it dropped down to like 27%. They went back another five years when the kids were 15, and it was down to about 17%.   And then they were so depressed, they stopped testing them because they could see they began as very creative. So, we're created creative. And a lot of moms will say, yes, I can see that in my children.   But something happens. And this was all in school. Something happened during school that taught them to not be creative.   So, the school teaches the kids to be obedient, to sit still, and to get the same outcome from every kid. Right? There's an expected answer on every test.   And you're to try to get the answer that the teacher wants. That's not creative. So, the first thing to do to preserve their creativity is don't send them to school.   That's the safest bet. And then when you do homeschool them, which I think is the best environment for them, don't do what they do in school. To bring them home and to go to all this trouble just to do the same thing that they're doing in school is not worth the trouble.   So, you've got to not do what they're doing in school. And so, for me, that meant don't do worksheets, make the content interactive. So, I did rely on curriculum, but I didn't rely on the curriculum to be the teacher.   So, I get the content from the curriculum, and then I make it interactive using artistic, creative skills so that they can be creative. And I don't teach it out of them. So, if you have young kids, that's good news.   They're already creative. You just have to don't teach it out of them. If your kids are older and maybe they've been in school, then you might have to like undo some of that training and set up some experiences where you ask them or even like in my classes, I'll set up a challenge.   And I expect everyone's to be different because everybody's going to do it a little bit more creatively in their way. And so, at the end of class, instead of like calling out the answers to see if everybody got the same thing, they're holding up what they did and telling me what they were thinking. And everybody's is different.   And then I really praise the ones who did something different. Maybe they changed the colors. Maybe they put glasses on Mona Lisa.   You know, maybe they gave her a cat to hold. So, I reward thinking outside the box. Now to to pour in beauty, and I think I might have heard this from Charlotte Mason, beauty in, beauty out.   So, you've got to load them with beauty. Now, I think that we were naturally drawn to beauty and people will argue with me about this. They'll say, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.   But I betcha I could find something that's beautiful and do a survey. And I betcha I could get 100% of people to say, yes, that's beautiful. And I could find something else, maybe a Hindu goddess sculpture.   And I could find something that 100% people would say that is not beautiful. And so, I think that ingrained in some of us because we're created by God, I think we have a sense of appreciating beauty. I do think that it gets taught out of a lot of people.   So, with my kids, I show them a lot of beauty. And this can be as simple as get a coffee table book from the secondhand bookstore on art and put it on your coffee table. Get books from the library and have lots of beautiful things to look at.   And so, when I now when I was teaching my own kids, this is kind of a fly by the seat of my pants. Make it up as I go. Now that they've left home and I can think about it, I'm putting together books that are a little bit more thoughtful.   So, in my books, you will see I've chosen a piece of art that is beautiful and I will pair it with the lesson. And then I'll give you an art activity. So, for example, in Into the Woods, you'll see I've chosen a beautiful piece of art and I paired it with a poem, which is another piece of beauty.   Yes. And then I'll give you an art lesson so that they can get creative with it as well. So, it is this hard to pull it together.   So that's why I'm making books to help parents. So, you have something beautiful and something to do with it. And so, that's how I pour in beauty to give a beauty in beauty out.   Laura Dugger: (21:59 - 22:36) I love that so much. And just even holding this resource, it is so beautiful. There's so much to it.   When it arrived, our daughters were delighted to go through it and to dive in and get to learn. But I'm just thinking many listeners are fellow homeschool parents and also many are not. But I don't want them to be discouraged because I'm even thinking of your courses or if they do intentional art in the evenings or on weekends or summer break and winter break.   There are still ways for all of us to incorporate this.   Courtney Sanford: (22:36 - 24:28) Yes, for sure. Yeah. Even so, my mom, I was public school.   And of course, the word hadn't been invented back then, but my mom appreciates art and poetry and she would always have art books on the coffee table. And I would just stop and, you know, in my free time, flip through the pages. And those images stuck with me my whole life.   She had one that had a Monet on the cover of the Field of Red Poppies. And that was just ingrained in my mind as a piece of beauty. So just something as simple as putting it out on your coffee table.   She also took us to museums whenever we traveled. And she didn't make a big lesson out of it, but I was exposed to beautiful buildings. You know, most museums are in beautiful buildings.   You see the beautiful architecture. And I was exposed to a lot of art that way. So, that was that totally goes with which with summer vacations and your vacations to, you know, make an effort to see a gallery or an art museum when you're traveling.   That makes a big difference. It'll make an impression on them. And of course, the books you could do in the summer.   We have summer classes and we have an art retreat that might not line up with school because it's in May. But the books you could for sure add on. Hopefully someday we'll have evening classes so that you could go to school.   We've got some this coming year that will start at four o'clock. So, hopefully some kids can go to school and come home and join an art class. So, we're working on getting it out as we as I get teachers willing to.   Most of my teachers are homeschool moms, too. And by the end of the day, they're tired. So, I've got a few.   I've got a young lady who's just graduating and she's going to do some late afternoon ones for us next year. So pretty excited about that.   Laura Dugger: (24:28 - 25:04) I love that. And then even thinking of the beauty and beauty out stepping outdoors. There's so much beauty in God's creation and so much change depending on where you live throughout the seasons.   But I love how you also brought up the library, because anytime I'm trying to learn something new, that's my first go to is put books on hold at the library. And so, if we're wanting to know what to add to our library cart just to get us started into this, can you share books that you recommend, both yours and others that you think would be good additions?   Courtney Sanford: (25:05 - 26:19) Oh, that's a good question. Yes, there are. I love to think about the biographies of artists.   And if so, if you're studying ancient history, you could look up a biography on Giotto. And they're still tell the stories in such a nice, kid friendly way. Like there's the story of Giotto.   He was actually watching the sheep. And while he was out in the fields, he would draw on the sides of rocks like big rocks. But you get another rock and you would draw on the sides of rocks.   And another artist was walking through one day and he saw these drawings on the rocks. He was like, wow, you're really talented. Come with me.   I'll make you an apprentice. And those stories are just they're fun to read together and hear those kinds of stories. And of course, the Usborne books of art are beautiful and they often have projects for the kids to do.   I can't think of any specific ones, but I do love a short paperback on the particular artists. And so, I kind of line those up along with the period in history that we're studying.   Laura Dugger: (26:20 - 26:32) That's great. And even you're making me think of picture book biographies on artists. We've always enjoyed those as well.   Obviously, the illustrations are fantastic, too, but the storylines are so interesting.   Courtney Sanford: (26:33 - 27:23) Yes. So, I just grab whatever they have. I had a big laundry basket.   And and I know card and I just grab whatever I could find and sometimes let the kids choose. And sometimes I would choose. If you're going with geography, you can find beautiful photos of the different areas.   See the landscapes or the sunsets. And that can through photography. And you can really get to know a place through beautiful photographs.   I like that part, too. And then that might inspire a pastel drawing of a landscape. Maybe it's a beautiful sunset you could recreate with pastels.   So, photography books are really inspirational, too.   Laura Dugger: (27:23 - 28:10) It's a great idea. And circling back, you had mentioned Andrew Pudewa earlier in our conversation. And I remember learning from him that with writing, the worst way we can teach our children is to say just free write, just write something down or here's a prompt to finish this sentence because better writing comes through imitating.   And so, you've even mentioned tracing is a great way to start. That's not cheating in art if you're not stealing credit from them. But if you're just practicing and tracing, this is a way to imitate.   And so, I'm wondering, do you have any other cautions for ways that may be the wrong way to introduce our kids to art?   Courtney Sanford: (28:11 - 30:50) I agree that. Yeah, you can get writer's block. What I find funny is that some people are so afraid to imitate artists.   But if I were teaching piano, I would teach your kid how to play something by Bach in which he would learn what Bach did. And nobody would say I'm stealing from Bach. You know, and you learn to play Beethoven by playing Beethoven and you you learn to reproduce those pieces of music.   I do the same thing in art. We look at what the masters did and we'll copy it in order to learn what they knew. And that way we build.   We're like standing on the shoulders of giants. So, we don't want every kid to have to start with inventing the wheel themselves. We'd never get very far.   We want to learn what the masters knew and then build on that. So, I do a lot of imitation. And then as the students ready, I let them know you are free to change this or to experiment with it.   So just last week we were drawing and painting red poppies and learning about Georgia O'Keeffe. And so, I said we can do an imitation of her poppy. And I'll show you step by step how to reproduce her poppy.   And in doing that, we're going to cause us to look more closely at it and study her blends. Like she would blend from yellow to orange to red in every petal. And we can study that technique.   And then as we do it and we practice it, we look more closely at hers and it kind of becomes a part of us. And then we'll find another flower and we'll use that same technique on a flower that we choose. Or maybe it's a flower we make up and we take that technique and we can apply it.   And it's a much better way to learn than trying to learn it yourself without looking at what the masters did. So, I think that I think I pulled a lot of that from Andrew Pudewa. The idea of I'm going to assist you until you say I got this.   I can do it from here. So, I do assist until they get it. And then I always say whenever you're ready, as soon as you're ready, change it and make it your own or do your own thing.   And because turning them loose too soon can break their confidence. So, you want to build them up until they can confidently experiment on their own.   Laura Dugger: (30:51 - 32:34) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. I'm so excited to share today's sponsor, WinShape Marriage, with you. WinShape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that helps couples prepare, strengthen, and if needed, even save their marriage.   WinShape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even if it seems like things are going smoothly. That way they'll be stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey. Through their weekend retreats, WinShape Marriage invites couples to enjoy time away to simply focus on each other.   These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of WinShape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is just a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. While you and your spouse are there, you'll be well-fed, well-nurtured, and well-cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication, and so much more.   I've stayed on site at WinShape before, and I can attest to their generosity, food, and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, WinShapeMarriage.org.  That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E Marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.    Well, and as parents, once we're past the resistance to maybe invest some of our time or our money or allow the mess into our home, but if we push past through that and we're ready to get started, I'd love to go over some practical tips.   So, Courtney, first, just what are some great art supplies to have on hand?   Courtney Sanford: (32:36 - 37:13) A number two pencil and some Crayola markers you probably already have. Those are great tools. I like to have my kids work in an art journal, and you can get these real inexpensive at Michael's.   It'll say on the cover, mixed media art Journal, and they come in different sizes. I kind of like the big ones, and that will allow you to use paint, pencil, and marker or anything you want. If it says sketchbook, it's not going to hold up to paint very well.   So that's why I get the mixed media paper. So, I start with the art journal, and then I like to make that journal be their book on a subject. So right now, I'm doing ancient history with some kids, and so they are making their own book about ancient history.   So, every week we'll do a drawing or a painting or watercolor on a lesson in ancient history. And so, each piece is not a masterpiece to hang on the wall. Each piece is a part of the story in their book.   That takes all the pressure off. So, they don't see this as, I don't know if this is going to be good enough to hang on the wall. That's not even a question.   It's a part of the story in your book. They can also take some notes. They can show their grandparents and review the topic by presenting it to their grandparents and showing off their book.   And then you can collect their books and put them on a shelf. It's not all over the house making you crazy. And then you can see from year to year how their skills have improved.   So, I kind of like every year I like pick a topic to be the subject of our art journal. So, I call it arts integrated learning. So, I'm pairing an academic subject with art for that year.   So, it could be poetry. It could be history. It could be science.   Whatever you pick. That's what you'll add to your art journal with.   Pencils. I like blending tools too. There are some people call them stompies.   For those of you who are watching. Here's one. It's just rolled up newspaper, but you can buy these at Michael's.   They're really cheap. But it takes a drawing to the next level. You can just blend things out and shade things really lovely.   Mark Kistler does some videos and teaches you how to. He'll go shade, shade, shade. And so that's a good way to start.   And it really elevates a drawing and it gives them a lot of confidence. And then of course the good eraser. The book drawing with children is a really good one for our parents to read and then teach from in that book.   They suggest you have them draw with markers so that they don't spend an hour erasing. If you have someone who's a perfectionist, they will make one mark and spend 20 minutes erasing it. And so, if you go right to drawing with markers, that's gonna teach them to make a good mark first and then keep going and not spend half an hour erasing.   When I get to age nine or 10, I like to use acrylic paints, but I only buy four colors of paint and then I make them mix all the other colors. So, we use yellow, magenta, blue, and white. Those are like the colors in your printer.   Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the ones in your printer. And those colors can make all the other colors. Now your printer has black, but I don't give kids black.   Instead of black, they could make purple or brown or dark color. So, you know, you teach them how to mix the colors that they want. They'll learn to mix it because they want green or they want purple, or they want brown.   And then they develop a sense of color theory, and you don't even have to teach it. They'll figure it out because they want those colors. If they find, if, if you don't feel confident in that, you can buy craft colors of the specific colors, especially brown.   That's a hard one to mix. But I do like the coverage of acrylic paints. I like watercolors too.   That's a little bit easier to get into. You just take it slow and practice a lot. So that's really all you need.   It's pretty simple.   Laura Dugger: (37:14 - 37:27) Well, and I'm wondering too, even with the acrylic paint at that age, once they're older, that one, I'm assuming can stain. So are there any tips that you have for containing the mess?   Courtney Sanford: (37:28 - 38:32) Yes, I get, and they're a little bit hard to find. So go to Amazon and find a, a tablecloth that is plastic on one side and felt on the other side. I forget what you call it, but there'll be like picnic tables, tablecloths.   And the plastic ones are going to drive you crazy because they're too thin. So, if it's flannel backed, it's a little bit thicker. So I get a white one at the beginning of the year.   And that comes out anytime we do clay or paint, and it goes over the kitchen table and I don't worry about cleaning it. You just let it dry, fold it up. And I put mine in the China cabinet right there by the table.   And then anytime we do something messy, that tablecloth comes out and, and then just fold the mess back up in it. And it works, it works really great to, and then you might, if you're, if you're a neat freak, maybe plan on buying one at the beginning of every school year so that you get clean slates. And then the paint that gets onto the tablecloth is actually lovely and it'll be pretty next time you get it out.   Laura Dugger: (38:33 - 39:11) Oh, I love that. That's a genius tip. I appreciate that for coming indoors because in the summer, I guess we could take it outside depending on where we live.   But then what about any hacks for finding the time to do this? And I guess I'm thinking back to a previous episode with Beth Rosenbleeth. She's the one who started Days with Grey and she would talk about different art prompts that she would set out for her children in the morning for a variety of ages.   But were there any things that kind of required minimal time from you, but had maximum return for your kids?   Courtney Sanford: (39:11 - 41:06) Yeah, that's a good point. I had, I wouldn't say I had a strict schedule, but I had a pattern to my days. And the time after lunch was a good time to do messy things in the kitchen because we were in the kitchen anyway.   And as I could clean up lunch and start dinner, I could be in the kitchen with them and they could be creative at the kitchen table with minimum involvement from me. One of my best afternoons was we had the microscopes out to do something specific and I left it out as I was cooking chili. And as I cut up each ingredient, I would cut a thin slice for them to look at under the microscope.   And so they were looking at a bell pepper and a red pepper and celery and tomato. And they were so, they so enjoyed that and I was able to cook dinner at the same time, which was fabulous. And that turned, it was probably like a 15-minute science lesson into like four hours of discovering things under the microscope.   So that element of play and you can do that with your art supplies too. Like I'll demonstrate a technique and then leave it out. I'll turn my attention to cooking dinner while they see what else they can do with it.   And, um, you know, I'll give them a few tips. Like, um, if you mix these three colors together, you're going to make brown and then turn your back and let them discover it for themselves. So, um, I'm a big crock pot person.   And so after lunch would be the time I need to clean up lunch and put something in the crock pot. So that would be a good time for me to get them started on art or science and, um, and then turn my back and let them have that, um, that discovery time without me hovering or telling them what to do or something.   Laura Dugger: (41:06 - 41:22) Oh, that's a great rhythm. I love these ideas. And then I kind of want to go in chunks of age.   So, thinking of little kids, how would you define the difference between a piece of art and a craft?   Courtney Sanford: (41:23 - 43:41) Yeah, a craft is going to be something where the focus is on following directions and that's important. They need to learn how to follow directions. And so we would do, especially around the holidays, I might do a craft and we all follow directions.   Um, a piece of art is going to be where they're, they all come out different. They're allowed to play and express themselves. Um, for me personally, if I'm doing a craft when I'm done, I think, oh, I could make 50 of these and sell them.   If it's an art, when I'm done with a piece of art, like one of these paintings behind me, when I'm done with that, I'm thinking I could never do that again. That took so much out of me. I'm exhausted.   A little piece of my soul is in that that's art. That's the difference. Um, so I don't sell my paintings because there's a little piece of my soul in, um, my husband makes fun of me for that.   He's like, you could just sell your paintings. They're like, what? They're, they're like my babies.   I can't, I can't part with them. It took so much out of me to create them. Um, but a craft, yeah, I'll just give away things that are, that I just followed directions for, um, in terms of kids, younger kids will enjoy crafts, but getting to high school, they recognize it as slave labor and they don't want to do that.   They are in what the classical education people call the, the, um, poetic stage, you know, they want to express themselves and they want to be unique. I think this is why they get tattoos. The tattoo is a way of saying this is who I am.   This is what it means to me. I'm unique. Um, so I think if we don't teach them to express themselves in art, they're going to get tattoos.   So that might encourage moms to, to give them the skills so that they can express themselves. You know, they need to be able to write poetry or write songs or paint a painting or do a drawing. There's that need inside of us to do that that God put in us.   And if they don't have an outlet, then they're going to find something like tattoos or something that we don't want them to be doing. Yeah. I mean, some of my kids are tattooed.   It's not bad.   Laura Dugger: (43:42 - 44:25) Well, and you've kind of answered a follow-up question I had because we talked about little kids, but I'm thinking of teens. So going back, my background is in marriage and family therapy, and we would encourage everyone that journaling is a free form of therapy. But I think of art as the same way.   And there's even studies that show when you're engaged in something artistic, the critical side of your brain goes offline. So you can't think negative thoughts while you're creating something new, but with teens, there's that added benefit of getting to express themselves. So is there anything else with art that you see as basically free therapy for adolescents?   Courtney Sanford: (44:26 - 46:54) Oh, sure. I do see it a lot. I experienced it because I started my business because of the shutdown and because I was teaching in person and then I had to switch to online teaching.   And so, the group that I had moved online and I figured out how to do it and got a little bit better at it. And then that summer I offered a class for adults. These were directors and I was in classical conversations at the time.   And so a whole bunch of teachers are expected to teach Western cultural history without a lot of background. And so some of the moms asked me if I would do my art class for them. And so I had about a group of like 50 adults and we would get on for an hour and a half every day.   And this was at the height of the shutdown when turning on the news, just stresses you out. Going to the grocery store was stressful because people were in masks or they weren't in masks or, you know, we didn't know anything. It was such a stressful time, but that hour and a half that we had together, we, our focus was on discovering a piece of art.   So, we were looking at beautiful things and then we were creating something and that changed our focus from what was going on in the world. And we would just relax, and we'd enjoy it. Having the live class kept our focus on it.   And when I don't have a live class in front of me, I'll be like, oh, I should put the laundry in or I should start dinner and I get distracted. But with that, you know, with other people on zoom, it keeps me focused. And so, we'd have this wonderful hour and a half vacation from the world.   And after it was over, I would just have this sense of peace. And then I'd come down and be like, oh yeah, that's still going on. And it was, it was so good for our mental health.   And, and I get, I hear moms tell me that the hour and a half once a week they spend with me doing art has been such a blessing. Like one student lost her father a year ago and this is helping her. She said she's finally coming out of her depression and she's finding a way to express herself and find beauty again.   And it's, it's been transformative for some students. So, it is a blessing. And I didn't, I didn't read that somewhere.   That's just from my experience. So, I'm a big believer in that.   Laura Dugger: (46:54 - 47:51) I can see why I think you're bringing up two points. I don't want to miss both with art therapy and then also art in community. So art and community first, I think for all of us at any age, what can we do as this is airing probably when everybody's getting out for summertime, how can we gather others alongside of us for whether it's our kids or us as peers to get to engage in these activities together.   And so, I want to follow up with you on that, but also before I lose my thought, I also want to link back to Karen Pence's episode. She had started art therapy for veterans, I believe, and just incredible. The healing that is possible through this.   So, do you have any thoughts Courtney on ways that we can this summer gather together community at different ages and do something artistic?   Courtney Sanford: (47:51 - 52:15) That is a good question. So, we have, I have found the online classes are the easiest for people to get to. And it's I get people ask if we can do it in person, but honestly it's hard to get people out or they're busy.   They're doing things in summer. So, we do offer a class online in the summer that's live. We have recorded classes that you could do alone or get a few people together and, do them together.   I have some sampler packs too. So, some of them are just three lessons. You could get some friends together and find, maybe you could find three, three times during the summer to do.   I have like a Vango sampler pack and a couple of short ones that you could just pay for the video and do with your friends or maybe a mother daughter event. Maybe you do the self-paced class with your daughter. And I've had some seniors, like seniors in high school, do a mother daughter class together and just say, this is such a good time for us to spend a little bit of time together, a little bonus time before they go off to college.   During the school year, we have, I have a watercolor artist friends. She lives near me and she's a professional watercolor artist and she does the class called Bible journaling. And that is a beautiful combination of a devotion and a watercolor time together.   Those are hour and a half classes too. And they meet once a week. And we sometimes we'll have grandmas, we'll have high school students, we'll have mother daughter pairs do it together.   And they actually have a little prayer time, a little study of scripture. And then then Kate teaches them step-by-step how to do a beautiful watercolor and incorporate some hand lettering in it. So that's just a beautiful fun time together.   So I highly recommend her class during the school year. If, if a mom could get away, or if you have a high school daughter to do it together, that is a great experience. And then I have a short version of art history that you could do with friends or your high school daughter.   It's called paint your way through marvelous to behold, which is just 12 lessons that goes through. And that's a variety of drawing and painting. If you wanted to do something like that.   So, lots of things, or you can check out the books. And if you feel confident following step-by-step instructions in a book, you could use the book or a combination of videos and books. If you're feeling kind of like you could lead a art group, you could get the cell page video, watch the video and then do, you know, exactly what I said, do that live with a group.   And if you have any art experience doing that, you could get, probably get, I would like invite all the homeschool moms in your co-op group to get together. And I do some, sometimes I'll go to do a mom's group, do a watercolor or I love to do the milkmaid with moms because the milkmaid is this beautiful painting from the Dutch masters of a woman cooking. She's just pouring milk.   I think she's making bread pudding and it's just so beautiful. It's like, what I think I look like homeschooling. I'm wearing like a long gold gown and those suns coming in and everything's perfect.   I'm like, this is the ideal. This is what I think homeschooling is going to look like. And then I kind of use that painting as a launch pad for painting Delft tiles from the period.   And so sometimes I'll, I'll do that with some homeschool moms because I like to encourage homeschool moms. I know it's hard. And I had some mentors when I was homeschooling that I really appreciated.   So, I'm always happy to, to be the support and be able to say it's worth it. Keep going. I know you're driving a crappy car, but it will be worth it.   And so, the sacrifices you make now totally pay off. And you know, before I know it, my son is going to be homeschooling his daughter. She's seven months now, but it's going to fly by, you know, she'll be four before you know it.   And I'll be teaching her how to paint. I suppose.   Laura Dugger: (52:16 - 53:13) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you?   Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    I don't want to miss what website to direct everyone to. If they want to sign up for one of these classes, where's the best place to follow up?   Courtney Sanford: (53:14 - 54:27) Go to delightfulartco.com and on that page, you'll see live classes, self-paced classes, summer retreats. I've done adult retreats before. I'd be open to doing it again if people want to.   So, I have, I would call it private retreats. So, if you want to get a group of women together, maybe somebody has a beach house, I'll come and do the art. It could be a one day, two day, or three-day event.   So that's an option. And we have self-paced classes. So, lots of things to look at.   I have a lot of sample classes on the website too. If you want to drop in and see what they're like. I think there's a how to paint Monet's water lilies is on the site.   You can watch that and see what it's like. Some people are afraid to try an online art class, but we all loved Bob Ross, and we watched him. So, if you can imagine saying, Bob, stop, could you do that again?   That's what my classes are like, and I'll be happy to stop and show you again. And then you can hold up your work at the end and I can give you some feedback. So, I'm like the new Bob Ross.   Laura Dugger: (54:27 - 54:46) There you go. That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.   And Courtney, I just have a couple more questions for you. If let's turn it back to parenting. If we want to get started today and we just want next step to get started.   What is an art prompt that we can still try today?   Courtney Sanford: (54:47 - 57:26) I would look at what you're, what, what are you teaching your kids? So, if you're teaching them, maybe you have a library book on the coffee table that you're studying biology. Pull out one thing from that and draw what you see and reproduce that.   Just one drawing a week. And before you know it, you'll have a whole biology book. So, I like to instead of saying parents, you have to add on another course.   You have to add art to everything else you're doing. Slide it into what you're already doing and it will enhance what they remember about that. And it's not like a whole other subject.   So just use art as a tool to help them remember what you want them to learn anyway. So, anything you want them to teach, if you have a photo or a drawing, have them trace it or draw it. I actually another good way to start is if you have little kids and Bible story time, let them draw what you're reading about.   My son loved to do stick figures. So, I have the whole Bible told in stick figures from when I'm from my youngest kid. And it is fabulous, especially like Sodom and Gomorrah.   And, you know, there's a lot of violent stuff. Boys love that stuff. So, he illustrated a lot of the Old Testament because I read it every morning, and he would just draw what he heard me.   I think I was using the Children's Illustrated Bible. So, he had some things to look at. That's another great way to get started.   Just let them look at the story and draw in their own art journal. So, there's so many fun ways you can use it in every subject. I had a mom tell me she read me an email.   She said, my daughter is just blooming in your classes. I wish every subject could be taught with an art journal and a paint palette. And I replied, we're working on it.   We're we've got we've got Latin and art, science and art, literature and art. There's just so many ways to find inspiration and what you're already studying and find the beauty in that subject. So, in our site, our art and biology course, students do a beautiful watercolor of the DNA strand.   And they draw the cell in watercolor. And it's just beautiful. And it helps them remember it and practices their art skills.   So, it's like a two for one. Think of it as a two for one. Take art and put it in another subject.   Laura Dugger: (57:26 - 57:46) I love win wins. That sounds amazing. And Courtney, I just have one final question for you today.   We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight. And so is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce?   Courtney Sanford: (57:47 - 58:15) The beauty, in beauty out, has been kind of my savvy sauce and also as unto the Lord. So, whatever I do, I do as unto the Lord. If I'm homeschooling, I'm teaching biology.   I'm going to do as unto the Lord. I'm not going to hand out a worksheet. I'm going to make it.   I'm going to make it a great experience. So, I would have to say whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord and not for men.   Laura Dugger: (58:16 - 58:36) What a great place to end. Courtney, you are so inspiring. You've given us great ideas and kind of confidence to get to put this into practice.   Even if we're not artists like you, we're all created in God's image and therefore can be creative. So, thank you for your time and wisdom today. Thank you so much for being my guest.   Courtney Sanford: (58:37 - 58:40) You are sure welcome. I had a great time. It's good to talk to you.   Laura Dugger: (58:41 - 1:02:25) You as well. One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Gospel John 15:26—16:4a Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. "I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” Reflection I try to put my mind in the place of the disciples minds and thinking, they're so excited about the teaching that Jesus has given them. And they have no real idea of what it's like to teach what Jesus is taught them. And so Jesus caring for them as he does, he wants so much for them to recognize that things are going to be very, very difficult. But I want you to know, that I've told you this to prepare you for it, and I will be with you. The advocate will be with you. Closing Prayer Father, to speak the truth is never been easy, especially when there are people living the lie. Bless us with the kind of conviction that we need to have of what is true, and help us to be strong, and to proclaim it with the conviction that it is the very necessary thing that we have to have in order to find peace. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get access to daily prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Monday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 77Voce mea ad Dominum1I will cry aloud to God; *I will cry aloud, and he will hear me.2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; *my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire;I refused to be comforted.3I think of God, I am restless, *I ponder, and my spirit faints.4You will not let my eyelids close; *I am troubled and I cannot speak.5I consider the days of old; *I remember the years long past;6I commune with my heart in the night; *I ponder and search my mind.7Will the Lord cast me off for ever? *will he no more show his favor?8Has his loving-kindness come to an end for ever? *has his promise failed for evermore?9Has God forgotten to be gracious? *has he, in his anger, withheld his compassion?10And I said, “My grief is this: *the right hand of the Most High has lost its power.”11I will remember the works of the Lord, *and call to mind your wonders of old time.12I will meditate on all your acts *and ponder your mighty deeds.13Your way, O God, is holy; *who is so great a god as our God?14You are the God who works wonders *and have declared your power among the peoples.15By your strength you have redeemed your people, *the children of Jacob and Joseph.16The waters saw you, O God;the waters saw you and trembled; *the very depths were shaken.17The clouds poured out water;the skies thundered; *your arrows flashed to and fro;18The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;your lightnings lit up the world; *the earth trembled and shook.19Your way was in the sea,and your paths in the great waters, *yet your footsteps were not seen.20You led your people like a flock *by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsDeuteronomy 8:1-108 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. James 1:1-151 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings.2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsThe Sixth Week of EasterO God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*.* Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And here is a shout-out today to Steve & Susan Webb from Apple Valley, MN. Thank you for your partnership in Project23. You're helping others hear the Word and respond to it. This one's for you. Today, we're looking at Mark 4:10-12: And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.'” — Mark 4:10-12 After teaching the Parable of the Sower, Jesus has a moment alone with the Twelve and a few close followers and they proceed to ask him about the meaning of the parables. And what Jesus says next stops us in our tracks: “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God… but for those outside, everything is in parables.” It sounds almost backward. Shouldn't Jesus be trying to help people understand the truth? Yes—but he is also revealing a deeper reality. Parables don't just teach truth—they test the heart. To those who are spiritually hungry, they invite. To those who are spiritually calloused, they conceal. Then Jesus, quotes from Isaiah the prophet. An ancient text where God tells the prophet that many will hear and not understand, see and not perceive. Not because God is ever unclear—but because people's hearts are closed to God's message. This is a sobering reminder that spiritual understanding isn't merely intellectual—it's formational. Notice the disciples didn't understand everything either. You will see their confusion about Jesus and the things he did and said all the way through the story. But they did something others didn't do—they asked. They leaned in. They stayed close to Jesus. And because they drew near, Jesus drew them deeper. Jesus wasn't hiding the truth from people. He was inviting those who wanted the truth to come closer. And he still is. If you feel confused about things God says in his Word—don't walk away. Lean in. Ask questions. Listen again. Keep listening to me every day. Take notes. Dig deeper. The difference between seeing and perceiving… hearing and understanding… is the willingness to stay close to Jesus even when we are confused and seeking clarity. So, in your life today, is there a place you feel a little confused about what Jesus is doing? Don't lean out. Lean in. #LeanInToJesus, #SpiritualHunger, #Mark4Devotional ASK THIS: What do Jesus' words reveal about spiritual hunger? When have you felt confused about God but kept listening? Why do some understand God's Word and others don't? How are you currently leaning in to stay close to Jesus? DO THIS: Stay close to Jesus by asking one honest question in prayer today about something you don't understand in his Word. PRAY THIS: Jesus, I don't always understand what you're doing, but I choose to lean in rather than walk away. Open my heart to see and hear your truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: Speak To Me.

Hello, Catholic Pilgrims, we are starting on a new voyage with Mother Cabrini. Two years have passed since her last voyage. This time she is leaving from Liverpool, that city made famous the Beatles. As you may know, all four Beatles' members were born and raised in Liverpool.  Mother Cabrini is going to tell us that this is her seventh time leaving Europe and before she goes, she has an audience with Pope Leo XIII. At the time of this recording, we just got our new pope, Pope Leo XIV. The St. Francis Cabrini Shrine in New York, recently posted these thoughts from a fellow Catholic:  “The last Pope Leo the world knew, sent a woman named Francesca X. Cabrini to the United States to care for the poor, hungry and marginalized. He sent her to bring them the hope of Jesus. That very woman died in the city of Chicago after being a missionary spreading the love of God, through the Sacred Heart of Jesus to those in need…May the new Pope Leo XIV from Chicago, who has been sent to Rome, also be a missionary spreading the love of God to all, because we are all in some need. Amen.”  Those are some great connections for us to ponder as we turn to page 207 and begin our journey across the Atlantic. 

Mike “C-Roc” welcomes Annette Reeder, known as The Biblical Nutritionist, to share her incredible journey of healing, transformation, and purpose. Annette opens up about a pivotal moment in her life when her young son asked why she didn't smile anymore—a question that exposed the emotional and spiritual void she had been hiding. Despite growing up in church and checking all the boxes of a "faithful" life, she realized she wasn't living in the fullness and abundance God promised. Her story takes listeners through seasons of emotional struggle, family health crises, and a cancer diagnosis that served as a wake-up call to take control of her family's health. Through these trials, Annette discovered the deep connection between faith, mindset, and physical wellness. She began studying scripture through the lens of health and healing, eventually earning a degree in nutrition and another in biblical studies. Now cancer-free for over 26 years, Annette helps others transform their lives by combining biblical principles with nutrition, offering a path to wellness that empowers the spirit, mind, and body. Tune in to hear how she's reversing the culture of sickness in the church and challenging others to start every day with a dose of “Amen sauce.”Website-https://thebiblicalnutritionist.com Social Media Links/Handles-https://www.instagram.com/thebiblicalnutritionist/https://www.youtube.com/thebiblicalnutritionist

Daily Dose of Hope May 26, 2025 Day 1 of Week 8   Scripture - Matthew 5:1-12   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We are broken and we need you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you this morning.  Help us set aside distractions so we might hear your voice.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us just focus on Jesus...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin the Sermon on the Mount, a block of Jesus' teaching that is pretty life-changing; these are teachings that emphasize purity of heart.  While the Sermon on the Mount runs neatly from chapter 5-7 in Matthew's Gospel, the reality is that this teaching probably took place over several days.  Matthew then organized it into sections and presented it in a way that he felt made the most sense, emphasizing the most critical parts of Jesus' teaching.   I want us to think about to whom Jesus was speaking.  He was on a mountain, preaching mainly to Jewish farmers and laborers, people who had truly been hurt by the Roman oppression.  They are tired of being bullied, mistreated, and facing such a heavy tax burden.  Those who live in Galilee were often seen as unclean by the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well, because of their ethnic diversity.  These are people who are being hit hard from all sides.  They are eagerly awaiting the Messiah, the one who will save them.   The portion of Scripture we are covering today is called the Beatitudes.  The word “beatitude” means to be blessed.  And when we dig further, the term blessed is to be full of honor.  So, contrary to what culture says, Jesus is saying these specific groups are to be honored.  In the Kingdom of God, groups that would not normally be honored will be.  God's economy is different.  That being said, who does Jesus say should be honored?   -The poor in spirit – This may include those who were economically poor (most of Jesus' audience would have been) but also those who were socially poor, such as without family or standing.  When you were poor, you were not able to defend what was yours. The poor in spirit also indicates people who are humble, dependent on God, and have a desperate need for him. This would not have been a group that the culture at large would have found honorable at all, but Jesus says they will gain the Kingdom of Heaven.   -Those who mourn – In a society such as theirs, mourning would have been a fairly common experience.  Death and illness would be have been a regular occurrence. It is estimated that half of all children died before their first birthday.  The life expectancy was around 35 but that number is skewed because of the high level of child deaths.  Basically, there were a lot of grieving moms. Jesus says that those who mourn are worthy of honor and will be comforted.   -The meek – Those who are meek demonstrate strength and integrity through gentle, kind, submissive behavior.  They are not aggressive.  This would not have been an attribute the rest of society would have honored and yet, Jesus does.  He says they will inherit the earth.   -Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure at heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness – I recognize that these attributes are not all the same but for the sake of today's discussion, I'm going to lump this group together.  These people would have been justice-seekers.  They speak up for the vulnerable.  To be a peacemaker is one who actively works to resolve conflicts.  To be merciful is to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged you.  All require a certain humility and purity of heart to care for others more than yourself.  And Jesus highly values them.   Jesus closes out this section by saying that there is another group who should also be honored – those who experience persecution for his sake; those who are insulted or harmed because of their faith in Jesus.  Great is their reward in heaven.  I think about the people of great faith over many centuries who have been burned at the stake, fed to hungry lions, or been sentenced to death by firing squad.  Many who should have been honored were killed.  Such is the state of our broken world.  Let's remember those Christians around the globe who are still being persecuted.  And Jesus himself said it would occur.    What are we to make of the beatitudes?  They certainly give us a barometer of sorts for our own lives.  How is your heart?  What are the things you really value?  Do you put the needs of others before yourself?  Are you merciful?  Do you stand up for the vulnerable (not just in theory but in practical ways)?  Do you sit with those who mourn so they will receive Jesus' comfort through you?  Are you humble?   Today's devotional isn't that long.  I hope you will take some time to read through the Beatitudes again.  Think about every group that Jesus says will be honored.  Are you part of that group?  Do you honor those attributes?  These go contrary to what our society honors as well.  But we are to be different.  Dig deep here, friends.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Monday, 26 May 2025   But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; Matthew 10:19   “And when they should deliver you, not you should be disquieted how or what you should say. It will be given for you in that hour what you should say” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus informed the apostles that they would be brought before officials as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. He now continues with, “And when they should deliver you.”   This is referring to the act of taking these apostles to the forum where the leaders just mentioned sat, be it in a proconsul office or a speech to kings and others, such as occurred with Paul in Acts when he addressed Festus, Agrippa, and others. They would be taken before these men and asked to state their words concerning Jesus. At such a time, Jesus says, “not you should be disquieted how or what you should say.”   Jesus uses the same word, merimnaó, that He used 6 times in Chapter 6 to alleviate the concerns of the disciples, and by extension, the others who attended the Sermon on the Mount concerning various issues. The word gives the sense of being over-anxious.   The apostles, as they went forth, were not to be in such a state because, as Jesus next says, “It will be given for you in that hour what you should say.”   The meaning is that until that point, they may be curious about what they will say as a witness, but that curiosity shouldn't concern them. Rather at that very hour, when they are brought forward to speak, they will be given words suitable to the situation. The next verse will explain why Jesus says this to them.   Life application: Of the words of this verse, Cambridge says –   “Curiously enough this has been quoted as if it justified want of preparation for sermons or addresses to a Christian congregation.”   The words “curiously enough” indicate that the commentator understood that such a thought is nonsense. And yet, these words of Jesus are cited quite often by people as they claim they will be inspired by the Spirit to speak.   There is nothing to suggest that this is the case, and a proper understanding and application of context will tell the student of the Bible that such is not the case. This is especially to be considered true because a large majority of Christians don't know the Bible very well. They may not know sound doctrine at all.   If this is so, why would the Spirit of the Father work through people with opposing viewpoints on theology to make their case through leaders today? Rather, we have the Bible. It is our responsibility to learn it and then tell what we know as best we can to those who ask. This is why Peter says –   “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.' 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:13-17   Peter did not tell his hearers that they would be given words at a particular time concerning what to say. And Peter knew better than most that proper doctrine counts. His epistle came after his rebuke from Paul for not holding to sound doctrine, as is recorded in Galatians 2.   We are given brains to use. If we fail to use them in studying theology, we will not know proper theology. God is not going to bail us out when we stand before others, having failed to do our best to learn what His word says. Jesus' words are given in a particular context for a particular reason. Let us remember this and keep things in their proper context!   Lord God, it is true that Your word is big and complicated. It requires a lot of time and difficult thinking to get its almost infinite number of nuances. And so, please be with us as we study and prepare ourselves to present our defense for the hope that is in us. Guide our minds now to prepare so that we will be prepared when needed. Amen.  

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends.” — John 15:15 Having friends is a great blessing. Friends multiply our joys and divide our sorrows. Friends walk in when the rest of the world walks out. Friends know all about us, and they still love us anyway. Proverbs 18:24 notes that “a friend . . . sticks closer than a brother. In other words, a true friend can be relied upon and is always there for us. The amazing thing is that Jesus, the Savior and King of creation, calls believers his friends. As believers in Christ, we are not just subjects or servants of the Lord of the universe; we are his friends. And he is loyal and true, sticking closer than a blood brother. In John 15, Jesus explains that, like a true friend, he is transparent and open with us: “Everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” No secrets, no deception, no masks—just an open heart entrusted to his friends. The truest sign of friendship is sacrificial love. Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” Jesus demonstrated this when he went to the cross to pay the price for all our sin. He considered friendship with us so important that he surrendered his very life in order to secure it. Lord Jesus, it's overwhelming to know that we have a friend in you. Grant us strength in knowing that you want to walk with us through life as our constant, faithful friend. Amen.

Matthew 6:26-34 Listen to other great sleep mediations on Amen.Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed.Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle.

Introduction: The Trustworthiness Test (Matthew 5:33-37): Do I Need to CONVINCE OTHERS of the TRUTHFULNESS of what I say? (Matt 5:33–34a) Do I Look for LOOPHOLES to GET OUT of what I say? (Matt 5:34b–36) Matthew 23:22 – And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 1 Peter 2:22 – He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Do I Always FOLLOW THROUGH on what I say? (Matt 5:37) James 5:12 – But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:33-37What was your big take-away from this passage / message?How can you strengthen your reputation when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness? How can you weaken it?Do you ever make excuses or look for loopholes to get out of what you say?Do you struggle with being a “yes or no” person? How do you fail to be reliable and follow through on what you say?What does it look like to truly repent of deception and make things right with those you have lied to?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Return your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Is it safe to say that trust is in short supply in 2025?We are constantly bombarded with lies, conspiracies, fraud,lame excuses, propaganda, cover-ups.With each passing year, we become less and less trustingas others seem less and less trustworthy.I was going to use an object lesson to prove this point,but for the sake of unity, which you'll see in a minutewhy I'm not doing this, I'm going to have you use your imaginations instead.Imagine with me that a bunch of images are from the screens behind meof famous individuals, politicians, billionaires, tech gurus, celebrities,social media influencers, world-renowned doctors,and popular preachers who you see pop up on Spotify, YouTube, and television.And with each image, with each person, I ask this very simple question,is this person trustworthy?And with some of these famous people, the answer would be a decisive yes,while others would be a resounding no.But some examples may prove to be a bit controversial and divisive.It may be a bit of a mixed reaction, which could lead to some frustration,heated debates, and strained relationships.Hence my unwillingness to show these images in service today.What if I were to close out this slideshow with a picture of you?And for the final time, I ask this very simple question, is this person trustworthy?What would be the response?What would your family members, friends, and fellow church members say about you?Maybe you don't want to play along with my made-up scenario,because you're afraid of what other people would say about you.But you cannot be oblivious in this area of life, because your reputation,when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness, is not a throwaway issue.Your credibility with others on the outside speaks to your integrity before the Lord on the inside.We've been studying the Sermon on the Mount for the past few months,and now this is the fourth week of our latest section, "The Heart of the Law."And throughout Matthew chapter 5, Jesus doesn't lessen the Old Testament law.He elevates it. He doesn't abolish it and throw it away.He digs down deep into our hearts to show how it applies at the deepest levels of who we are.Jesus proves that obeying God's commands and displaying true righteousness are matters of the heart.Jesus cares way more about the internal than the external,because who you are internally shapes all that you say and do externally.So far, we have covered what Christ commands and expects when it comes to anger,sexuality, and marriage.In Matthew chapter 5, verses 33 through 37,the Lord turns your attention to what he has to say about making promises and keeping your word.To help you gauge your own personal credibility, Jesus assigns an important testthat you cannot afford to skip or to fail.And this test is the trustworthiness test.Before we dig into the first question, let's go to the Lord in prayer.Please pray that I will faithfully proclaim God's word.While I pray that you will faithfully and joyfully receive God's word.Father, we thank you for the gift of your word.It is a mirror that you hold up to our hearts to show us what means to change.Lord, this morning you're going to show us some very challenging and difficult things about ourselvesthat we do not want to see,but we must recognize them and we must make changes by the power of your Holy Spirit.So may you do the work that only you can.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.All right, who is ready for the trustworthiness test?Well, we're going to take it anyway. So the trustworthiness test, question one.Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Let's read verses 33 through 34.Jesus says, "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old,'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This is the fourth time in Matthew chapter 5 that Jesus repeats the same verbal pattern."You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."So let's cover what was said in the past."You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn."You will not find this exact sentence word for word in the Old Testamentbecause it is a mashup of three different passages about keeping oaths.With the Nicos 19-2, Numbers chapter 30 verse 2 and Deuteronomy 23-21.In the Old Testament, oath taking was serious business.It wasn't something to be entered into lightly or carelessly.Vows were reserved for important matters.And God put them in place as a first line of defense against dishonesty.I find it helpful to view Old Testament oaths like spiritual speed bumps.Why do speed bumps exist?To cause you to slow down and keep pedestrian safe.Let me ask you, do speed bumps always do that?No, we've all seen maniacs treat speed bumps like challenges and jumps instead of warnings.And maybe you've been that maniac from time to time.Oaths were set up by God to curb the natural tendency to be deceitful and unreliable.They were like speed bumps.By taking an oath, you were saying,"God, you can bring judgment and cursing upon me if I do not keep my side of the bargain."But these spiritual speed bumps could not stop all dishonesty.It couldn't do away with people being deceitful.So vows help provide accountability, but they could not change the human heart,which is seen most clearly in the lives of the religious leaders of Jesus' day.The rabbis, the scribes, the Pharisees misinterpreted the Old Testament commands about vowsand twisted God's word to advance their own dishonest agenda.They believe that you shall not swear falsely, only spoke to perjuring yourself in a court of law.We'll talk about this in even greater detail in a few minutes,but they also believe that the instruction you shall perform to the Lord what you have swornleft some room for coloring outside the lines when it came to keeping your word.If you weren't in a court setting or you didn't make vows directly to Godand in His name there was some wiggle room to tell some lies.It wasn't ideal, but hey, not a big deal.As long as you said the right things and as long as you kept their man-made rules.Once again, the religious leaders are taking God's word, taking His commandsand putting it into their own man-made box.Their standards were shallow and their righteousness was phony.But Jesus calls His followers to a greater righteousness, to a higher standardwhen He says, "But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This command brings up an important question that we have to answer.Is Jesus saying that it's always sinful to make a promise or a vow of any kind at any time?Well, some Christians, some scholars and pastors certainly think so,but that's a really hard stance to defend from the rest of Scripture.The Apostle Paul kept and he made and kept a vow in Acts 18-18.In Revelation chapter 10 verses 5 through 6, the Apostle John records an angel swearing enough.In the Old Testament, God made oaths to show the seriousness of His covenant promises.God didn't do that because he had a shaky reputation.He lovingly did that to give His people a rock-solid confidence in His trustworthinessand the certainty of His purposes and His plans.God's vows were like exclamation points that highlighted His credibilitybecause we so often do not trust Him even though His track record is flawless.The Lord established the Old Covenant with Israel and He has established a new covenant with all who believein the life, death, and resurrection of His Son.And at its core, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship that is built upon promises being keptand the Bible is crystal clear that God always keeps His promises.And speaking of covenants, the Bible describes marriage as a covenant relationshipwhich means that as a good and godly thing, you swear your devotion to your spouse.You know, 11 years ago, Pastor Jeff married my wife and Iand when he asked me to repeat my vows to Kate after him, I didn't say, "Whoa, wait preacher boy,I don't make promises or take vows. Don't you study the Bible for a living?Shouldn't you know that? Pass." Did I do that? Jeff, do you remember that? I don't think I did that.Let's move from the marriage ceremony to the courtroom.I'm called to testify in a very important case and the judge tells me to raise my right handand he asked me, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"What should I say?Sorry, judge. I'm a Christian. I can't do that. You may as well call the next witness. I'm out of here. Deuces.Is that going to go very well with the judge?Listen, Jesus is not condemning vows in the context of a courtroom or a wedding ceremony.Jesus is forbidding the practice of taking frivolous oaths and making pointless promises in everyday life situations.He's saying, "Do not be the kind of person who needs to swear on something or someone to be believed.Do not be the kind of person who needs to clarify that you're not lying.Who needs to clarify that you're telling the truth.Be so trustworthy that your word can be taken at face value without jumping through hoops.As a follower of Christ, you shouldn't need the spiritual speed bumps of promises, oaths, and vows to be taken seriously.You should be a person of such great integrity that promises are unnecessary because your past performance speaks for itself.Others should trust you implicitly because you have proven yourself explicitly.Your heart should be so full of the truth that lying doesn't even register as a valid option to choose or path to take.For the Christian, honesty is like breathing.You inhale the truth of God's word and then you exhale the truth in every situation.You don't tell white lies because you understand that there are no such thing as white lies.Every lie, no matter how small, is a huge deal to the Lord.You don't embellish your stories or add on extra details to impress people because who cares what other people think about you.What matters most is what God thinks about you.And He knows what you're saying is not true.You don't cut corners at work because you ultimately serve the Lord of all creation who sees everything,not the human boss across the hall who cannot see into your heart.You cannot control much in this life, but you do have the ability to deepen your credibility or destroy it,to strengthen it day by day or to willingly weaken it.You have no right to be offended when someone doesn't believe you if you have a shady history of saying things that are not trueand making promises that you didn't keep.You are simply reaping the consequences of what you have sown.You are receiving the label of untrustworthy, which is a title that you have repeatedly earned.The trustworthiness test.Move on to the second question.And it will not be easier than the first.Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?So Jesus pulls the rug out from underneath the religious leaders and exposes their ridiculous schemes in verses 34 through 36.But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.As I said earlier, the scribes and Pharisees were experts at looking for loopholes and creating escape patches to get out of what they said,especially if what they said wasn't made in a court setting.So instead of swearing in God's name, they would swear by heaven, they would swear by the earth, the city of Jerusalem, or even their own heads.In their minds, swearing on these things was not binding like swearing in God's name.This is the verbal equivalent of crossing your fingers behind your back whenever you make a promise.They thought they were so clever. They found their own get out of oaths free card.But Jesus shows them that this line of thinking is childish and dumb.He destroys their loopholes and he closes their escape patches.Let's follow his logic.Jesus says, "Do not swear by heaven because who does heaven belong to?"All right. I know it's early. I'm going to ask that question again.Who does heaven belong to?It is His throne.And Matthew actually reinforces this later on when Jesus says,"And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it."He also says, "Don't swear by the earth because who does it belong to?"Once again, I'm going to try it again. Who does the earth belong to, everyone?It is His footstool. God is so awesome. He is so big.The earth is like a teeny tiny ottoman where He puts His feet up.The earth belongs to God, so don't swear by it.It's also not a great idea to swear by Jerusalem because who does it belong to?Great job, everyone.The king of Jerusalem, the king of the earth, and that is God.You swear by Jerusalem. You swear by the one who created and rules over Israel.And He also says, "Don't swear by your own head."It seems kind of weird, right? What does that even mean?Well, it means this. "If I don't keep my word, let me be decapitated."A modern day equivalent of this would be, "Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my..."These words mean nothing and they control nothing.Jesus says, "You cannot make one hair white or black."Back in those days, people could not control their hair color with hair dye like we can today.Once your hair started going gray, there was no going back.But even today in 2025, you can't speak a change of hair color into existence, right?You can't say, "Let my hair be black. Let my hair be blonde again."You cannot do that.So Jesus is saying, "If you cannot even control the color of your hair with your words,your words definitely cannot control if you're decapitated or not."God is saying, "My words certainly control that."Which means, "I own you. I own your head. I am the one who controls all things.So do not swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or your own head."Jesus even exposes the other things the religious leaders swore by in Matthew chapter 23 verses 16 through 22.They would swear by the gold of the temple instead of the temple itself.They would swear by the gift on the altar instead of the altar itself.Jesus doesn't actually commend them for their shrewd thinking and their creative brainstorming.He calls them blind fools who cannot see the stupidity of their own actions.He labels them as blind guides who have fallen into a sinful pitand are calling the rest of Jerusalem to join them in the darkness.I know what you may be thinking at this point.Taylor, this is an interesting history lesson at all.I just don't see how this relates to me.I haven't sworn by anything or anyone for a long time.I haven't said, "I swear on my mother's life. I swear on my grandma's grave.I swear by my life that I'm not lying."So how does this relate to me? I haven't done that for many years.Well, here's how the text relates to you."Don't be a sneaky word ninja like the scribes and Pharisees.Do not be a sneaky person.Do not look for escape hatches and loopholes to get out of what you say,because that does not honor the Lord."Let me give you some examples that may hit close to home.Husbands, you're supposed to carry out a task for your wife, but then you forget.Yeah, stretch your imagination because that never happens, right?Then your wife calls you on it and to save face you say, "Oh, I was just about to do it.You didn't give me enough time. That's sneaky. So don't do it."You commit to a small group, but on one particular night, you don't really feel like going.So you call your small group leader, "Oh, man, I'm really under the weather.I don't want anybody else to get what I have. So I'm not going to make it tonight."That's sneaky. So don't do it.Someone texts or calls, someone texts or emails youand really annoying message that you do not want to respond to.So the next time you see that person, you pretend like you accidentally missed it.That's sneaky. So don't do it.You get invited to an event that you desperately do not want to go to.So what do you say? "Yeah, maybe that might work. Let me get back to my calendar and get back to you."You ain't getting back to them about nothing. You are going to ghost this person.That's sneaky. So don't do it.Unfortunately, you do get sucked into that event that you do not want to go to.Instead of biting the bullet and attending, you call that person the day of,"I really wanted to come, but something came up."But nothing came up.That's sneaky. So don't do it.And I know what some of you are saying to yourselves right now."Taylor, this seems like really small potatoes in the grand scheme of things."Shouldn't we move on to something a bit bigger?I mean, come on. These kinds of excuses are harmless and they hurt no one.Actually, these kinds of excuses are harmful and they hurt everyone, including you.You are numbing yourself to the deceitfulness of sin.And you are paving the way to lie in bigger and bolder ways moving forward.Listen, no one starts out as a pathological liar.It starts with one compromise that you get away with.And then it's way easier to make another compromise.You cross the line, you get away with it,and then you make a habit out of pushing boundaries and testing the limits.If you keep this up, you will end up saying and doing things that you never thought you were capable of.Sneakiness is a way of slipping into your heart and taking over if you're not on guard against it.But most importantly, these kind of devious excuses are sinful and sinning against the Lord.And that alone should give you pause and cause you to cut this behavior out of your life.It is not wise, it is not right to walk in the sneaky footsteps of the scribes and Phariseeswho rejected and murdered the Son of God.Instead, walk in the footsteps of the one who committed no sin.Neither was deceit found in his mouth.Jesus always told the truth even when it cost his own life.Jesus never made excuses to get out of his mission of dying on the cross.You must always tell the truth even when it gets you into trouble.Never make excuses even when it seems like everyone else around you is.The final question of the trustworthiness test.Do I always follow through on what I say?Do I always follow through on what I say?Jesus wraps up by showing the alternative to being an undependable and sneaky person in verse 37.Let what you say be simply yes or no.Anything more than this comes from evil.Well, according to our Lord, being an honest person is not a complex concept.Say yes if you'll do something. Say no if you will not do something.That's super easy, right?Not really.It is so simple, but it is also so hard to live out.It isn't convenient to be a yes or no person, but it is the freest way to live.It is so stressful to not keep your word.It is so stressful to have all those deceitful plates spinning in your mindbecause at some point one will come crashing down and you will have to deal with the consequences.It is exhausting to put on a mask and pretend to be someone who you are not.It is painful to not be the person who you project yourself to be.It is embarrassing to be unreliableand to have the reputation of being a constant flake and not an unshakable rock.When I am closing things down in my office for the day and packing things up,I often text my wife to let her know that I am on the way home.But sometimes I get distracted with other things after I send that text.Writing down a sermon thought that I don't want to lose,wrapping up a task that I forgot to complete, or talking to Pastor Jeff.That never happens, right Jeff?Several months ago I arrived home way later than I told Kate that I would.And I profusely apologized and I will never forget her blunt response with a loving smile on her face."Oh, that's okay. I always add an extra 15 minutes to your arrival time when you text me."Ouch!That loving burn really stung my conscience.My wife gave me some extra wiggle roombecause she was aware that I often missed the target of my stated arrival time.Do people need to give you wiggle room because they know that you often missed the target of keeping your word?They know you'll be somewhere off on the board but way off-center,or maybe you'll miss the board completely.You mean well, you have good intentions but your follow-through fall short.Maybe you feel very discouraged by your unreliable reputation.You're thinking to yourself, "I don't want to be this way. I want to help everyone.I want to be there for everyone but I can't seem to keep all of my commitments."Well, it sounds like you have a no problem.You say yes to everything because you don't want to let anyone down.But in the process, you let everyone down because you cannot equally serve everyone.If you say yes to everyone, your word will not carry weight with anyone.And to be clear, saying no can be wrong and sinful.Some of you in this room say no way more than you should at home, at work, and even in this church.God may be calling you to step up more, not step back less.But at the same time, saying no can also be right and productive.Because you have to recognize that you are not God.You cannot be everywhere all the time and you cannot do everything at the same exact time.You are a limited person.You need to count the cost of what you are committing yourself to before you say yes or no.It takes great wisdom and discernment to say no to good things.So that you can say yes to the best things.And Jesus is so direct at the end of verse 37 and says that anything beyond being a yes or no person is evil.It is wicked.And this is recapt in James 512.Some translations of Matthew 537 say that this kind of behavior beyond being a yes or no person is from the evil one.Meaning if you live this kind of deceitful lifestyle, you are way worse off than just being like the scribes and Pharisees.You are also like their spiritual father, Satan.Listen to what Jesus says to religious leaders in John 844.You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father's desires.He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of lies.My kids bear a family resemblance to Kate and me.They have my eye color and thankfully they have her good looks.After service, you see them running around.It shouldn't come as a surprise that they belong to Kate and me because they look just like us.There are two spiritual families and it's obvious which one you belong to based on which father you resemble the most.Do you resemble Satan who lies, cheats and steals or do you resemble God who tells the truth, does the right thing in the right way and selflessly serves?Which father do you resemble the most?We've reached the end of the trustworthiness test.How did you do?Did you pass or did you fail?Did you stick the landing or did you crash into the runway?Maybe the Lord has encouraged your heart and revealed to you that you have a strong and solid reputation that is well deserved.If that's you, keep up the good work, keep your foot on the gas pedal and keep moving forward by the grace of God.Maybe you're convicted that yes, you are in the family of God, but you sure aren't acting like it right now.Instead of hiding away and keeping your lies a secret, be honest about your dishonesty to God and to those you have betrayed.It is not enough to just stop lying from now on. You also have to uncover the lies that you've already told.I know that's hard. I know that feels shameful.But remember, if you are a true believer in Christ, there is no condemnation for you.You can be honest about your sin and ask for forgiveness from others because the penalty has already been paid by Jesus Christ.We can share openly about our failures because they're no longer held against us.Maybe you've come to the realization that you resemble the evil one and belong to the wrong family.For years, you've unapologetically told bold-faced lies. You've shared half truths.You've led people on. You've been underhanded and you've covered your tracks so you can avoid getting in trouble.You may feel crushed under the weight of your own dishonesty right now.If that's you, please do not try to do better or be better on your own.Do not try to clean up your act because that will not solve the problem.Self-improvement and self-help are fools errands that lead straight to hell.Those worldly methods will not solve the problem that is truly within you, which is the problem of your heart.Please come clean and confess your sins to the Lord.Turn from your deceptive ways and throw yourself at the mercy of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again to save liars like you and me.If you do that, the Lord will give you a brand new heart that loves the truth, that desires the truth.A heart that is overflowing with a desire to share the truth with everyone.Only the most trustworthy one in all of existence can truly turn you into a trustworthy person.Let's pray.Father, I am a man of unclean lips who dwells among the people of unclean lips.Lord, we have sinned against you with our deception and our lies and our half truths.Lord, on our own, we are so helpless. We are so hopeless.But we thank you for your redeeming work.We thank you that you have cleansed us.You've cast our lies away from us as far as the east is from the west.Lord, help us not to be sneaky anymore.To not be deceptive anymore. To not make untrue excuses.Lord, help us to be people of our word who don't need to make promises.Help us to be people who have a solid reputation because our reputation impacts your reputation in this world.Lord, there's someone in this room who does not know and love you.May today be the day where they finally make the most important decision of their livesand are transformed and changed forever.We thank you for your goodness. We thank you that you are unchanging even though we're constantly changing.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank you for joining us for our 2nd Cabral HouseCall of the weekend! I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of our community's questions that have come in over the past few weeks…   Esmira: Hello, Can low cholesterol be an issue. I eat primarily low fat white fish with lots of vegetables and exercise daily. My cholesterol is below the reference range. I don't eat much fat and am wondering if I should be concerned about the low cholesterol? Thank you                                                                                                                      Nikolina: Dear Dr. Cabral, do you have any information on how to ged rid of fibroids in the breast. Since I got my second child I have one which does not stop growing. It is growing much slower since I do intermittent fasting, but I was wondering why do I always get them in my breast. Is my body missing something (I used to have them since I am 25 but they all stoped growing at 1 cm, and now they are even smaller. This one has a sensitive hormon receptor the doctor said. I was wondering why do I get fibrocystic breast changes breast changes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine they say fibroadenoma is caused by mucus.                                                                                                                                                     Emily: Hi Steven. Thank you so much for all you do! I am curious, I have the slow COMT gene snp. I have been told to avoid supplements such as quercetin and rhodiola as they can effectively slow down COMT even further. I'm interested in the histpro supplement for seasonal allergies but I see quercitin is one of the top ingredients. Do you have any other suggestions for allergy products or could you please shed some light on quercetin for slow com? Also with slow comt, would fasting be contraindicated as adrenaline is released while fasting, which is the opposite of what we want and would further bog down comt? Thanks so much for your input! Best wishes                                                                                       Leora: My 4 year old was diagnosed with enamel hypoplasia. What could have caused this? The dentist said it could have been a result of illness during pregnancy (I had covid and a fever at 36 weeks pregnant). I would like to avoid this with my future pregnancies and children if possible. He received silver caps on his teeth. Are these dangerous for him? Will this lead to heavy metals in his blood stream. Of course, every dentist I asked said no, but I wonder if they learn about this during their studies. He also received large amounts of antibiotics as a child (age 1.5 years to 3 years) due to a misdiagnosis of neutropenia. Could this have impacted his teeth?                                                                                                  Cristina: Dr. Cabral, thank you for your generosity and support and for helping so many people looking for answers. My question is related to the effectiveness of Prenuvo brain scan (as a part of the whole body scan) compared to Dr. Amen's brain scan. Do you know if they provide the same valuable information on issues with the brain or are they different? I have a child on the spectrum and was wondering if the Prenuvo scan would help me identify issues that my child might have, such as brain damage as well as whole body issues. Also, is there a treatment plan recommended by Prenuvo after the scan is performed. Thank you!           Thank you for tuning into this weekend's Cabral HouseCalls and be sure to check back tomorrow for our Mindset & Motivation Monday show to get your week started off right! - - - Show Notes and Resources: StephenCabral.com/3397 - - - Get a FREE Copy of Dr. Cabral's Book: The Rain Barrel Effect - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: CabralSupportGroup.com - - - Dr. Cabral's Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Complete Minerals & Metals Test (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Complete Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Complete Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Complete Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Complete Omega-3 & Inflammation Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - Get Your Question Answered On An Upcoming HouseCall: StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - - Would You Take 30 Seconds To Rate & Review The Cabral Concept? The best way to help me spread our mission of true natural health is to pass on the good word, and I read and appreciate every review!  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chron 9; Rom 6 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this May 25th, join Heather as we gather together on day 145 of our journey through the scriptures. Today's episode takes us through the grandeur and wisdom of King Solomon—his unforgettable encounter with the Queen of Sheba, the height of his wealth, and ultimately, the choices that turned his heart away from God. Our readings span 1 Kings 10–11, 2 Chronicles 9, and culminate in Romans 6, where we're reminded of the freedom found in Christ and the call to live as new creations, no longer slaves to sin. Together, let's seek the illumination of the Holy Spirit, warm our hearts by the fire of God's love, and remember: you are deeply loved. Grab your Bible and join us as Heather leads us in scripture, reflection, and prayer—right here on the Daily Radio Bible. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Well, now you are free. Did you hear Paul clearly say it? In Romans 6:22, he declares, "Now you are free." Free from the power of sin. And yet, as Paul says, you have become a slave—not to sin, but to God. United to him by the work of Christ, because of what Christ has done for us, because of the Spirit of Christ that now dwells in us, empowering us, awakening us to who we truly are in Jesus. We become a new creation, a new person, a free person, no longer a slave to sin, no longer imprisoned by our past, by those inclinations and habits that once held us so tightly. We are free. This freedom is not just a concept, but a living reality that we are called to inhabit. We can learn, perhaps slowly, day by day, to live into the truth of our freedom, to exercise our freedom to be what we now are—a person rooted in God's love, a person set apart to live for him. That is the journey and the invitation of discipleship. It begins with the truth: our union with God, this new reality accomplished by Christ and now alive within us. We are free—absolutely, eternally, irrevocably free. Free to live as God has always intended for us, in him, forever. May we see ourselves as we truly are—no longer defined by our sin, but by his glory and grace. Free to love, free to serve, free to live lives marked by the fruit of the Spirit. This is the good news. This is our call and our strength for today. That's a prayer I have for my own heart, for my family, and for you. May we embrace this new life and walk in the freedom Christ has purchased for us. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord, God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you. Bring the nations into your fold. Pour out your spirit on all flesh and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And now, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy. O Lord, grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And here is a shout-out today to Ben Gandy from Hugo, MN. Ben, thank you for being part of Project23. Because of your faithfulness, we get to plant the Word of God in more lives every day. This one's for you. Today, we're looking at Mark 4:1-9: Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”— Mark 4:1-9 Jesus sits in a boat, teaching a crowd so large He has to back away from shore to be seen and heard. He launches into a story—a parable—that has echoed across history: A sower went out to sow. Some seeds land on the path. Some seeds hit the rocky ground. Some seeds fall among thorns. Some seeds land on good soil—and multiply. It's simple imagery, but Jesus isn't giving a farming lesson. He's giving a heart lesson. And this isn't a story merely about the Sower—or even the Seed. It's a story about the soil. Jesus is spading the soil of the heart of all mankind, asking: What kind of soil is your heart? Is it hard and unreceptive, like the path? Shallow and emotionally reactive, like the rocky ground? Distracted and overgrown with worry, like the thorns? Or soft and ready—like the good soil that produces lasting fruit? You see, the Seed is always good. The Word of God never fails. But the condition of the heart determines the harvest. And here's the good news of this parable: the soil of your heart doesn't have to be fixed in the hardened state. It can be plowed. Broken up. Prepared again. So if your heart's been hardened by disappointment… Or shallow from busyness… Or choked by distraction… Let Jesus work your soil. Let his pick axe, plow, and grader work on your heart. Soften it to him and let him produce results in and through you. Today—don't just hear the Word. Listen to it by changing your heart to him. #HeartCheck, #GoodSoil, #ParableOfTheSower ASK THIS: Which type of soil best describes your heart right now? What has hardened, distracted, or shallowly rooted your spiritual growth? Are you actively allowing God to break up and prepare your heart? What fruit have you seen when you've responded with a soft heart? DO THIS: Ask God to reveal one area of your heart that needs softening—and surrender it to him today. PRAY THIS: Father, break up the hard places in my heart and prepare me to receive your Word. Help me listen with surrender and grow lasting fruit through your Spirit. Amen. PLAY THIS: Word of God Speak.

Audio Recording Audio Block Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Come, Let Us Walk in the Light of the LordIsaiah 59:14-21 (ESV)14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away;for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede;then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head;he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment.19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun;for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”Sermon OutlineThe Bible presents Jesus as the answer to the deep and complex questions of life. 1. The Truthv14 “truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter”v15 “he who departs from evil makes himself a prey”2. The Intercessorv15 “The Lord saw it, and it displeased him”v16 “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede”3. The Redeemerv16 then his own arm brought him salvationv17 He put on… v20 “a Redeemer will come… turn from transgression” v21 “this is my covenant… My Spirit that is upon you, and my words… shall not depart…”Prayer of ConfessionOur holy God, we have all sinned and there are none who are righteous. Truth has stumbled in the public squares. We admit that we have fallen, believing what is false, and attempting to deceive others. We have failed to seek justice and have not always stood with courage against injustice. We have doubted your word. We have not fully surrendered to Jesus, whom you sent. Our thoughts and actions reveal we need a redeemer. We thank you that Jesus came to intercede for us, clothed with righteousness, offering himself for us. We turn from our transgressions to you, asking for forgiveness, with thankful acknowledgement of your mercy. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhere do you see “truth stumbling” today?Do you find it hard to be honest? Are you straightforward with the truth? When are you tempted to conceal or spin things?Is God's anger with human sin justified? What is your response to the Bible's portrayal of God who is angry with the sin and injustice of our world?What error are you more likely to make when there is injustice: jumping in hastily and making things worse, or failing to do or say something? Why?What are some qualities of a faithful intercessor? What are some things you should be prepared to do as a Christian in our corrupt world?What qualifies Jesus to be the only intercessor between God and humanity? How does he intercede?What does it say about God that He comes Himself to redeem us? What can we learn from the fact that God redeems those who had turned from Him at such cost to Himself? How does this help us as we go through life?Do you believe Jesus is the truth, the way and the life? What questions do you have as you navigate this next stretch of life? What good are you seeking, what troubles are you struggling to deal with, and what are you learning?How are you making use of God's Spirit and Word? What role do they play in your life?Read AheadIsaiah Sermon Series

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:1 Kings 9; 2 Chron 8; Ps 136; Romans 5 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible with your host, Hunter! On this 144th day of the year, we journey through the scriptures together, exploring the rich stories and timeless wisdom found in First Kings 9, Second Chronicles 8, Psalm 136, and Romans 5. Today's readings celebrate the faithfulness of God as seen in Solomon's achievements and heartfelt prayers, the enduring love that threads through Israel's history, and the astounding grace offered to us through Jesus Christ—the second Adam. As we reflect on where we stand—in Adam or in Christ—Hunter guides us to rest in the grace and peace that comes from being placed in Christ, reminding us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Join us for thoughtful Bible reading, a time of prayer, and encouragement for your daily walk. Let's dive into God's word and anchor our hearts in His enduring love! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Where do you stand? That's the central question that emerges as we read today's passages from Romans, reflecting on the contrast between Adam and Christ. In Adam, all humanity found its standing—marked by sin, separation, and death. But now, in Christ, everything has changed. Jesus, the second Adam, has undone what Adam did. By one act of righteousness, Christ has given us right relationship with God and new life. It's easy to forget—or maybe never fully realize—where we actually stand in God's story. Paul tells us in Romans 5:18, “Adam's one sin brought condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life to everyone.” And yet, so many who have called on Christ to be saved fail to see or embrace this astounding reality: we have been placed in Christ. We didn't earn this position by our own effort or strive our way into it. It's a gift. Something done for us, something to receive and rest in, not a status we have to anxiously maintain. Do you know that you stand in a place of undeserved privilege? Do you know that, by grace, you are adopted into God's family? You have been moved, not because of your own piety or performance, but by the work of Jesus. You are in him. This is where you belong. Be sure of where you stand—know it for your own soul, for your peace, and for the strength you need today. Christ has placed you in himself. You no longer stand with Adam. You stand with Jesus, the Son. Tell your soul today: you stand with Jesus. You have been brought into a place of undeserved privilege, and nothing can separate you from God's love in Christ. His faithful love endures forever. Enter into the joy, the strength, and peace of it. And as you do, allow God to share that reality with others through you. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord of heaven and earth, you have awakened us in your mercy once more. Still our anxious minds. Quiet our striving hearts, and help us to rest in the knowledge that we are held by you. May we walk in step with your spirit today, not ahead, not behind, but beside you in trust and love through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Oh, god of all peoples, you formed every soul in your image and breathe life into every heart. Open the eyes of the nations, soften hearts grown cold, and teach us to live as neighbors and friends. Let your spirit move in power. Renew the face of the earth and usher in your reign of peace. Amen. And now, lord, let me be a bearer of your peace where voices divide. Let me speak grace where fear takes root. Let me plant trust where the world rushes on. Let me walk with you. May I seek not to climb, but to kneel, not to win, but to love, not to grasp, but to give. For it is in emptying that we are filled, in surrender that we are strengthened, and in union with you that we find our truest joy. Amen. And now as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Gospel John 15:18-21 Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.” Reflection Jesus is using very strong language as he warns the disciples that they're following him, is going to cost them everything. It's beautiful the way he implies that those who serve him will have to endure what Jesus endured. They will have to go through a transformation of giving everything to the father. It underscores the commitment that God is asking from his disciples, and he asks it from all of us in a sense. That we deal with suffering in a way that somehow believes that it brings about something good, something valuable to us in our relationship with God and each other. Suffering is not an enemy, but it is essential to help us to become who are called to be. Closing Prayer Father, give us courage. Give us hope. Give us the ability to endure all that is not yet what we long for it to be, knowing one day everything will be revealed as it was intended to be. And all of it will be good. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congratulations, we have come to the conclusion of Part One of the Catechism! Fr. Mike reviews the last “nugget” section on death and judgment, inviting us to regularly ponder the moment of our own death and judgment before our Lord. We conclude today with an explanation of the meaning of the word “amen” and the significance it has for our belief in God. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1051-1065. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Chron 6-7; Ps 135; Romans 4 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter invites us to journey deeper into the heart of God's love as we continue our year-long reading through the Bible. On this May day, we explore 2 Chronicles chapters 6 and 7—witnessing Solomon's heartfelt prayers and the awe-inspiring dedication of the temple. From there, we lift our voices with Psalm 135 in praise of God's enduring goodness and faithfulness. Finally, we reflect on Romans chapter 4, where Paul reminds us that righteousness comes by faith, not by our own works, using Abraham as our example. Hunter encourages us to see God's unconditional love in new ways, urging us to take one step at a time in trusting His goodness—even when life is uncertain. With moments of prayer and reflection woven throughout, this episode is a gentle reminder that we are loved, challenged to pass on that kindness, and invited to walk in faith today. Whether you're new to Daily Radio Bible or a longtime listener, you'll be uplifted by today's spiritual encouragement and Hunter's heartfelt prayers for you and the world. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Abraham was fully convinced of God's ability to do whatever he promised. He trusted that God loved him before and beyond anything he could have done for God. In other words, God's love comes to us first. His love is not conditioned on our belief. His love emerges from who he is, his character, his very being. It's not based on my character and who I am. The full import of God's unconditional love is seen in the life of our Lord Jesus, the one who has offered himself on behalf of the entire world. His life, his death, his resurrection declare that we are loved by God. Abraham was convinced of God's unconditional love, but that conviction didn't happen overnight. It didn't just arrive all at once without reservation. No. Abraham's conviction was learned. He was convinced as he walked with God one step after another. And these steps led him into a deeper and deeper conviction that God is good and that his love for us is faithful, even when we are unfaithful. God's love for us is not dependent on our performance. It's based and rooted in his very heart, in who he is. And who he is is seen perfectly in the face of Jesus. So let's do what Abraham did and grow in our conviction, one step at a time, one day at a time, opening our hearts to the reality of God's goodness. Perhaps daring to believe today more than you did yesterday that God's love for you is unconditioned, and it's rooted in his heart. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Merciful God, you have brought us through the night into this new day. We offer you our lives again, our hopes, our fears, our work, our rest. Keep us faithful in the little things and mindful of your presence in every moment. Let us not be led by anxiety or pride, but by your peace that passes all understanding through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord Jesus, you stretched wide your arms on the cross to draw all people to yourself. Draw the hurting, the hungry, the weary. Break down every wall of hostility, and build us into one family by your Spirit. Amen. And now, Lord, teach me to walk, not with fear but with faith. Where there is noise, let me be still. Where there is boasting, let me be quiet. Where there is suffering, let me kneel. Let me not crave recognition, but righteousness. Not applause, but communion. For in you, I have life. And in dying with you, I rise. Amen. And now as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

In today's installment of our Wellness Wednesday series, we talk with Dr. Daniel Amen, psychiatrist and and founder of Amen Clinics, about ADHD and mental illness treatments in the United States. He tells us about the seven different types of ADHD that he has seen in his clinics as well as some of the potential causes and treatments beyond medication that are available. And are young boys being over-medicalized just for being rambunctious boys, or is there a real rise in ADHD diagnoses? Lastly, we pick Dr. Amen's brain, no pun intended, on marijuana and mushroom use in adolescents and just how harmful it can be. Buy Dr. Amen's newest book "Raising Mentally Strong Kids: How to Combine the Power of Neuroscience with Love and Logic to Grow Confident, Kind, Responsible, and Resilient Children and Young Adults": https://a.co/d/afp0IjV Share the Arrows 2025 is on October 11 in Dallas, Texas! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sharethearrows.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for tickets now! Buy Allie's new book, "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/4COtBxy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Timecodes: (01:21) Dr. Amen introduction (02:09) Brain scans & ADHD types (15:20) Are boys over-medicalized?  (18:38) How do you know if you have ADHD?  (27:08) Increase in ADHD diagnoses (30:14) Artificial dyes and unsafe foods (36:47) Investigating causes of ADHD (44:48) “Chemical imbalance” theory (51:40) Marijuana use (56:41) What to do --- Today's Sponsors: Interior Delights — Interior Delights takes the guesswork out of decorating with new collections every season to help you style your home. Visit InteriorDelights.net/Allie and use code ALLIE for 10% off your first purchase. Pre-Born — Will you help rescue babies' lives? Donate by calling #250 & say keyword 'BABY' or go to Preborn.com/ALLIE. Fellowship Home Loans — Fellowship Home Loans is a mortgage lending company that offers home financing solutions while integrating Christian values such as honesty, integrity, and stewardship. Go to ⁠fellowshiphomeloans.com/allie⁠ to get up to $500 credit towards closing costs when you finance with Fellowship Home Loans. --- Links: Amen Clinics: https://www.amenclinics.com/ Effects of an elimination diet and a healthy diet in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40059999/ Change Your Brain Every Day podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/change-your-brain-every-day/id1178337794 --- Related Episodes: Ep 857 | Is ADHD Real? | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin (Part One) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-857-is-adhd-real-guest-dr-roger-mcfillin-part-one/id1359249098?i=1000624680025 Ep 858 | The Disturbing Origins of Adderall | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin (Part Two) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-858-the-disturbing-origins-of-adderall-guest-dr/id1359249098?i=1000624797989 Ep 983 | What Doctors Aren't Telling You About Antidepressants | Guest: Brooke Siem https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-983-what-doctors-arent-telling-you-about-antidepressants/id1359249098?i=1000652056518 Ep 1189 | SSRIs Are Rewiring Babies' Brains — and Killing Their Moms | Guest: Dr. Adam Urato https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1189-ssris-are-rewiring-babies-brains-and-killing/id1359249098?i=1000708507649 Ep 1031 | Psychiatry Is Killing People | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1031-psychiatry-is-killing-people-guest-dr-roger/id1359249098?i=1000661830317 --- Buy Allie's book, You're Not Enough (& That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alliebethstuckey.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Relatable merchandise – use promo code 'ALLIE10' for a discount: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices